if you want peace, prepare for war

English

Etymology

Calque of Latin sī vīs pācem, parā bellum, an adage adapted from a statement found in 4th century AD Roman author Vegetius's tract De re militari, in which the actual phrasing is igitur quī dēsīderat pācem, praeparet bellum (“therefore let him who desires peace prepare for war”).

Proverb

if you want peace, prepare for war

1. Visibly preparing for a fight can deter one's enemies from opening hostilities, by not giving the appearance of an easy target.

Translations

Translations

• Finnish: jos haluat rauhaa, valmistaudu sotaan
• French: si tu veux la paix prépare la guerre (fr)
• German: wenn du Frieden willst, rüste zum Krieg
• Latin: sī vīs pācem, parā bellum
• Polish: jeśli chcesz pokoju, przygotuj się do wojny
• Russian: хо́чешь ми́ра, гото́вься к войне́ (xóčešʹ míra, gotóvʹsja k vojné)
• Spanish: si quieres la paz prepara la guerra

See also

• balance of terror
• deterrence
• peace through strength
• make love, not war