# if you want peace, prepare for war

> English word · Proverb

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

## 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”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/if-you-want-peace-prepare-for-war