LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum

Sī vīs pācem, parā bellum

“If you want peace, prepare for war”

SI · VIS · PACEM · PARA · BELLVM

Adapted: a later form of a classical line

after Vegetius, Epitome of Military Science 3, preface

igitur quī dēsīderat pācem, praeparet bellum

Vegetius's 'let him who desires peace prepare for war'; the neat form is later.

Word by word

  1. Sīsīif
  2. vīsvolō vellewish, be willing2nd sg. pres. act. ind.
  3. pācempāx pācis f.peacesg. acc.
  4. parāparō -āreprepare, acquire; parātus -a -um, ready2nd sg. pres. act. imper.
  5. bellumbellum -ī n.warsg. nom.

Using it as a motto or tattoo

Latin endings carry gender and number, so a saying about one person may need changing for another. Check your own version, or have three new ones composed, on the motto desk.

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Quick answers

What does “Si vis pacem, para bellum” mean?
“Sī vīs pācem, parā bellum” means “If you want peace, prepare for war”. Vegetius's 'let him who desires peace prepare for war'; the neat form is later.
Who said “Si vis pacem, para bellum”?
after Vegetius, Epitome of Military Science 3, preface, where the Latin reads “igitur quī dēsīderat pācem, praeparet bellum”.

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