People
In peace, as a wise man, he should make suitable preparation for war.
— Horace • Satires. ii. 2. (111.)
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The saying presents peaceful conditions as the right time to prepare for war. Its contrast links wisdom with anticipating a future that differs sharply from the present. The practical principle expressed here is that readiness should precede a crisis, rather than begin only after trouble arrives.
Context reviewed