proverb · Words worth keeping
He that makes a good war makes a good peace.
He that makes a good war makes a good peace.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying links successful fighting with a favourable peace. A critical reading asks what good peace requires rather than assuming victory supplies it.
What the words are saying
Good war and good peace are paired as though one reliably produces the other. The expression can prompt thought about the relationship between a conflict’s outcome and what follows. It must not become a promise that war brings lasting security or a justification for violence. A useful interpretation examines the people affected, unresolved harms and the arrangements needed for a peace that is fair and durable.
Everyday example
A discussion of a conflict’s end considers rebuilding trust and addressing harm instead of treating the announcement of victory as sufficient.
When to use it
Use it to question what an outcome would need to support a fair peace.
What it does not mean
Victory does not guarantee peace or justice, and the saying is not military advice.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1717 · War (good)
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English