All is fair in love and war.
All is fair in love and war.
Meaning in plain English
The saying claims that everything is fair in love and war. It portrays powerful aims as reasons to suspend ordinary limits on conduct.
Example
Someone rejects the phrase as an excuse for misleading a partner and addresses the actual conduct instead.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
All removes distinctions between acceptable and harmful actions. A critical interpretation can explain the excuse being offered without endorsing it. Strong feelings or conflict do not settle whether conduct is respectful or justified. A useful discussion asks what limits should still apply when a speaker wants an exceptional licence to pursue a goal.
When to use it
Use it to examine an attempted exception to ordinary standards.
Keep in mind
It does not justify deception, coercion, violence or the suspension of obligations.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 26; PDF page 7
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Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
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