live by the sword, die by the sword en · X
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
From the Bible, Matthew 26:52, where Jesus rebukes one of his disciples for having used his sword against a servant of the High Priest of Israel.
Meanings
- One who uses violence can expect a violent response; it is better to try to use peaceful means wherever possible.
- (figuratively) One can expect dire outcomes from any vice; used to convey a sense that poetic justice is inevitable.
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(figuratively) The means of one's success can become the means of one's downfall.
In the “live by the sword, die by the sword” category of ironic litigation, consider the fate of struggling hardware and software maker Sun Microsystems.
2009, Larry Downes, The Laws of Disruption: Harnessing the New Forces That Govern Life and Business in the Digital Age, Basic Books, →ISBN:And in Dirk Diggler's most anguished scene, as he shouts at Jack Horner, "I'm ready to shoot my scene RIGHT NOW!" we learn that those who live by the sword can also die by it.
1997 October 17, Roger Ebert, “Boogie Nights (1997) review”, in Chicago Sun-Times:“Before the contest, I tweeted ‘Live by the sword, die by the sword’,” he said. “I helped developing AI and I would be the one who would be the loser of the match. Although I won, in the end, for now.”
2025 July 26, Hannah Devlin, quoting Przemysław Dębiak, “Competition shows humans are still better than AI at coding – just”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Translations (40)
cs kdo s čím zachází, s tím také schází (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · bg всички, които се залавят за нож, от нож ще погинат (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · sh кo se mača lača od mača i gine (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · no alle som griper til sverd, skal falle for sverd (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · pt quem vive pela espada, morre pela espada (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · sh ко od mača živi od mača i gine (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · sh ко од мача живи од мача и гине (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · vi chơi dao sắc có ngày đứt tay (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · nl wie leeft bij het zwaard, zal sterven bij het zwaard (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · de wer das Schwert nimmt, soll durch das Schwert umkommen (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · cmn 生於劍，死於劍 /生于剑 (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · it chi di spada ferisce, di spada perisce (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · ru подня́вший меч от меча́ и поги́бнет (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · cmn 以暴易暴 (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · vi ác giả ác báo (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · es quien a hierro mata, a hierro muere (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · el πάντες όσοι πιάσωσι μάχαιραν διά μαχαίρας θέλουσιν απολεσθή (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · sv alla som griper till svärd skall dödas med svärd (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · fr qui vit par l'épée périra par l'épée (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · uk всі, хто візьме меча, від меча і загинуть (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · da vold føder vold (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · pl kto mieczem wojuje, ten od miecza ginie (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · hu (a)ki kardot fog/ránt/ragad, kard által vész (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · ru кто с мечо́м к нам придёт, тот от меча́ и поги́бнет (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · sh ко се мача лача од мача и гине (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · ro toți cei ce scot sabia, de sabie vor pieri (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · cmn 死于剑 (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · be усе, што возьмуць меч, ад мяча і загінуць (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · la qui gladio ferit gladio perit (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · grc πάντες γὰρ οἱ λαβόντες μάχαιραν ἐν μαχαίρῃ ἀπολοῦνται (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · fi joka miekkaan tarttuu, se miekkaan hukkuu (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · sk kto mečom bojuje, mečom zahynie (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · sh ko se mača lati, od mača će poginuti (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · cmn 冤冤相報何時了 /冤冤相报何时了 (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · cmn 凡動刀的，必死在刀下 /凡动刀的 (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · cmn 必死在刀下 (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · ko 칼로 흥한자는 칼로 망하리라. (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · sl kdor živi od meča, bo z mečem pokončan (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · eo kiu glavon prenas, per glavo pereos (one who uses violence can expect a violent response) · cmn 惡有惡報 /恶有恶报 (one who uses violence can expect a violent response)