2007-07-12 07:57:39 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
It means that love and war are the only two things in the world that have no rules. Love: if you really love someone, you can be willing to go to any lengths to make them happy, you'll be ready to do anything to claim their love. There isn't any fair play. How can there be? For example, if there are two people who love one person then whatever they do to reach their true love can be said as fair because they are doing what's right. In the end, it comes down to what your inetentions are. There is no fair play, is it fair if your heart is broken because the lady you love has found someone else who seems to love her equally? Is it fair if your love is sacrificed for someone else's happiness?
War: War usually requires fair play but again, men are willing to go to any lengths for their country and in their eyes, it's perfectly right because they are serving their country. Nothing can be said to be unfair or fair. Take WW2 for example, many of Hitler's soldiers thought they were doing what was best for their country by killing the "inferior races" and it was fair to them. Is it fair if Germany was balamed for the entire WW1? BUT all the other countries(Britain,etc.) agreed on it so it could technically be said to be fair because who would argue? Everything's fair in love and war because it's all a matter of conception.
2007-07-12 08:09:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR -- "The rules of fair play do not apply in love and war. The proverb has been traced back to John Lyly's 'Euphues' (1578). First attested in the United States in 'Horse-Shoe Robinson' (1835). The proverb is found in varying forms. The proverb is frequently used to justify cheating." From "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman ( Random House, N.Y., 1996).
2007-07-12 08:02:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Only In Love And War
2016-11-07 06:30:22 · answer #3 · answered by hoch 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that the rules of fair play that usually apply in civilization and polite society don't apply in these two areas- love and war. Check out the link below to see the origins of the phrase. It actually dates back to 1578.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/8/messages/366.html
2007-07-12 08:07:25 · answer #4 · answered by jkaiseresquire 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because there are no rules, really.. when winning or losing (at all costs) is the "game" in love and war. It's a great old saying, because it's essentially true. You do what you can, what you have to win 'your love' & intended, over. Wooing them, entertaining them, wowing them, fooling them etc. -- and also eliminating the competition by ridicule, more $$, better toys, taking someone away, etc. etc.
War is always unfair. Gen. Washington's best moment was crossing the Delaware right? (now think about it!!) He crossed an icy river at night sure -- but they slaughtered 1,000s of uniformed soldiers that were sleeping on a CHRISTMAS evening when the "rules" of war were far from that sort of guerilla activity... considering battle participants, even the American revolutionaries were used to announcing their entry into battle by BANDs, walking & tooting and crashing cymbals, piping into flutes etc. and with the flags, colors flying before "war". Look what war has become now, in the Middle East and in streets everywhere, just about... no uniforms anymore. Women can strap bombs on, now.
Essentially winning love, can be a war in microcosm at that... of all sorts of intrigue, spying, intelligence, action, waiting, needing to re-group, planning an evening, setting a trap, physical behavior, detente, making peace, etc. etc.
2007-07-12 07:59:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
it basically means that in love or war anything goes. some people believe that and some do not. i believe that in war all is fair because it's either kill or be killed. i do not believe that when it comes to love however because some people go great lengths to manipulate and hurt people that they "love" and that's not fair.
2007-07-12 08:00:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The whole idea of war is to win and it would be stupid to not do everything you can to win (even if you have to fight dirty). Same with love you can't just sit back and hope to win hearts you have to do everything you can especially when someone else is after the same guy/gal. Anything goes.
2007-07-12 08:02:31 · answer #7 · answered by Deuce 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Love or war is something that decides your life. so, In love as well as in war we try to win at any cost.
In war, we try to win over the opponent.
In love, we try to win the person we love. So, the quote says, just win.
2007-07-12 12:58:33 · answer #8 · answered by Gunda 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It means that there are NO rules in matters of war and love.
2007-07-12 08:05:12 · answer #9 · answered by Dave C 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
basically, it's something people say to justify lying to people to get them in the sack. it's kind of an immoral way to look at things actually, in my opinion.
2007-07-12 08:00:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋