proverb · Words worth keeping
War is sweet to those who never tried it. –Pindar
War is sweet to those who never tried it. –Pindar
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
War seeming sweet to those without experience contrasts an attractive impression with untested knowledge. The supplied wording attributes the statement to Pindar.
Example
Someone listens to affected people and checks evidence before accepting a romantic description of conflict.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The attribution is retained as an unverified anthology claim. A responsible reading questions romantic descriptions of conflict without assuming all inexperienced people approve of it. Relevant testimony and evidence matter, and the sentence gives no method for violence or universal account of war’s effects.
When to use it
Use it critically to question idealisation of conflict.
Keep in mind
No verified attribution or universal view inferred from lack of experience is established.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
Greece
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.- Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- Greece