“In peace, prepare for war. In war, prepare for peace.”

—  Sun Tzu

The quote "In peace, prepare for war. In war, prepare for peace." is famous quote attributed to Sun Tzu (-543–-495 BC), ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher from the Zhou Dynasty.

Sometimes erroneously prepended to the opening line "The art of war is of vital importance to the State", but appears to be a variation of the Roman motto "Si vis pacem, para bellum". It's not clear who first misattributed this phrase to Sun Tzu. The earliest appearance of the phrase in Google Books is 1920, when it appeared in a pharmaceutical journal, but no attribution was given then.
Misattributed

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update July 24, 2025. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Sun Tzu photo
Sun Tzu 68
ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosophe… -543–-495 BC

Related quotes

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham photo

“The only way to have peace is to prepare for war.”

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708–1778) British politician

To the Duke of Newcastle (c. August 1758), quoted in Basil Williams, The Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham. Volume I (London: Longmans, 1913), p. 379
1750s

Gerald of Wales photo

“Happy the state which in times of peace is yet prepared for war.”
Felix est illa civitas quae in pace bellum cogitat.

Gerald of Wales (1146) Medieval clergyman and historian

Book 2, chapter 9, p. 271.
Compare Vegetius De Re Militari: "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum" (Let him who desires peace prepare for war).
Descriptio Cambriae (The Description of Wales) (1194)

George Washington photo

“To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”

George Washington (1732–1799) first President of the United States

First Annual Address, to both Houses of Congress (8 January 1790).
Compare: "Qui desiderat pacem præparet bellum" (translated: "Who would desire peace should be prepared for war"), Vegetius, Rei Militari 3, Prolog.; "In pace, ut sapiens, aptarit idonea bello" (translated: "In peace, as a wise man, he should make suitable preparation for war"), Horace, Book ii. satire ii.
1790s

Horace photo

“In peace, as a wise man, he should make suitable preparation for war.”
in pace, ut sapiens, aptarit idonea bello

Horace book Satires

Book II, satire ii, line 111
Satires (c. 35 BC and 30 BC)

Frederick B. Maurice photo

“I went into the British Army believing that if you want peace you must prepare for war. I believe now that if you prepare thoroughly and efficiently for war, you get war.”

Frederick B. Maurice (1871–1951) British Army general and historian

Speaking in Carnegie Hall, New York City, on 4 April 1919.

Context: As a soldier who has spent a quarter of his life in the study of the science of arms, let me tell you I went into the British Army believing that if you want peace you must prepare for war. I believe now that if you prepare thoroughly and efficiently for war, you get war.

Terry Pratchett photo

“Peace?' said Vetinari. 'Ah, yes, defined as period of time to allow for preparation for the next war.”

Terry Pratchett book Unseen Academicals

Source: Unseen Academicals

Harry Truman photo

“We must be prepared to pay the price for peace, or assuredly we shall pay the price of war.”

Harry Truman (1884–1972) American politician, 33rd president of the United States (in office from 1945 to 1953)

Special Message to the Congress on the Threat to the Freedom of Europe (1948)
Context: The recommendations I have made represent the most urgent steps toward securing the peace and preventing war. We must be ready to take every wise and necessary step to carry out this great purpose. This will require assistance to other nations. It will require an adequate and balanced military strength. We must be prepared to pay the price for peace, or assuredly we shall pay the price of war. We in the United States remain determined to seek peace by every possible means, a just and honorable basis for the settlement of international issues.

Wendell Berry photo

“Far from making peace, wars invariably serve as classrooms and laboratories where men and techniques and states of mind are prepared for the next war.”

Wendell Berry (1934) author

"A Statement against the War in Vietnam".
The Long-Legged House (1969)

Robert Aumann photo

“It turns out that the Romans were champs in making peace. Their motto was that if you want to make peace, you need to prepare for war. They knew game theory.”

Robert Aumann (1930) Israeli-American mathematician

Quoted by Elad Benari in The Frantic Desire for Peace Only Brings War.
Source: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/140029#.VDs8U_ldUa4

Albert Einstein photo

“We must be prepared to make the same heroic sacrifices for the cause of peace that we make ungrudgingly for the cause of war.”

Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born physicist and founder of the theory of relativity

Related topics