if you want peace, prepare for war

proverb

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

OriginLatin sī vīs pācem, parā bellum →
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Meanings

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

Origin

  1. Latinsī vīs pācem, parā bellum
  2. Englishif you want peace, prepare for war

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”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

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

if you want peace, prepare for war. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20you%20want%20peace%2C%20prepare%20for%20war

MLA

“if you want peace, prepare for war.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20you%20want%20peace%2C%20prepare%20for%20war. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “if you want peace, prepare for war,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20you%20want%20peace%2C%20prepare%20for%20war.

Source: if you want peace, prepare for war on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.