Meaning & Analysis
The ultimate objective and conclusion of any armed conflict is the establishment of peace.
Insights
Inevitability of Resolution
The proverb asserts that all forms of strife, from personal arguments to legal disputes, are not sustainable indefinitely. Their natural and necessary conclusion is resolution and a return to a state of harmony.
Justification for Conflict
By defining peace as the objective, the proverb can be used to rationalize conflict as a necessary means to a noble end. It suggests that the suffering of war is a temporary price paid to achieve the greater good of lasting tranquility.
Cyclical Nature of History
The saying implies a cyclical view of human affairs, where periods of intense conflict ('war') are inevitably followed by periods of calm ('peace'), suggesting a natural rhythm of struggle and resolution.
Philosophical and Moral Framing
The proverb reflects a core tenet of 'just war' theory, popularized by thinkers like Augustine, which posits that the only morally acceptable reason for engaging in conflict is the establishment of a just and lasting peace. It frames war not as a perpetual state but as a finite, purposeful action.
Rhetorical and Political Use
This saying serves as a powerful rhetorical tool for leaders and peacemakers. It can be used to justify the hardships of war by focusing on a desirable future, as in the phrase 'the war to end all wars', or to encourage reconciliation by reminding disputants that the ultimate goal is harmony, not continued strife.
Psychological Hope
Psychologically, the proverb speaks to the human need for closure and a return to stability. The chaos of 'war'—whether literal or metaphorical—is inherently unsustainable, and the 'end' of peace represents a fundamental desire for order, security, and resolution.
Ironic Undertone
There is a potential ironic reading, as the peace treaties that end one war often contain the seeds of the next (e.g., the Treaty of Versailles). The 'final end' can thus be seen as an ideal that is often tragically temporary, highlighting the cyclical nature of human conflict.
Rhetorical Devices
Antithesis
The proverb is built on the powerful contrast between 'war' and 'peace', creating a stark and memorable statement about the relationship between conflict and its resolution.
Teleological Language
The phrase 'the final end' gives the proverb a philosophical weight, framing peace not just as a conclusion but as the ultimate purpose (telos) of war.
Anastrophe
The syntax is slightly inverted, placing emphasis on 'WARS' at the beginning of the phrase to highlight the condition that peace is meant to resolve.
Transcription
Quotations
Peac ends al warre.
(is the End).
Annotations
- Spoken by them that would compose a Law Suit, or reconcile those who have had an Outfall.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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