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All's fair in love and war

Meaning: Normal rules don't apply in romance or conflict.

Origin: English proverb from John Lyly's Euphues (1579).

Translations

  • French: En amour comme à la guerre, tous les coups sont permis (literally: In love as in war, all moves are allowed)
  • Spanish: En la guerra y el amor todo vale (literally: In war and love, everything goes)
  • Japanese: 恋と戦は手段を選ばず (Koi to ikusa wa shudan wo erabazu) (literally: In love and war, any means is acceptable)

More proverbs about Human Nature

  • A friend in need is a friend indeed — True friends show their worth during difficult times.
  • The squeaky wheel gets replaced — Constant complainers may be removed rather than accommodated.
  • Beauty is in the eye of the beholder — Perception of beauty is subjective and personal.
  • The bigger they are, the harder they fall — Powerful people suffer greater consequences when they fail.
  • Beauty is only skin deep — Physical appearance is superficial; character matters more.
  • East or west, home is best — No matter where you go, home remains the best place.

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