You must ask your neighbour if you shall live in peace.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Peace with a neighbour depends partly on how both people live alongside each other. Consider the other person’s needs and boundaries rather than assuming your own intentions alone determine the relationship.

What the words are saying

The saying presents peaceful living as something involving the neighbour, not solely the person wishing for it. Ask can be read as consulting about shared conditions and expectations. That does not require another person’s permission for every choice or make peace possible by agreement alone. An unreasonable demand or continuing mistreatment may need to be challenged. The useful concern is the relationship between separate people using a shared place: noise, access or expectations can affect more than one household. A workable conversation considers those effects without treating one party’s preference as an automatic rule for everyone else.

Everyday example

Two neighbours discuss when a shared entrance needs to remain clear, rather than each assuming that their preferred use causes no difficulty for the other.

When to use it

Use it when a shared arrangement needs consideration of both parties’ circumstances.

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Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.