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Happy the state which in times of peace is yet prepared for war.

— Gerald of Wales Descriptio Cambriae (The Description of Wales) (1194)

Felix est illa civitas quae in pace bellum cogitat.

Original text (Latin)

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Notes from Wikiquote

Compare Vegetius De Re Militari: "Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum" (Let him who desires peace prepare for war).

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War

More quotes by Gerald of Wales

Nowadays no one ever pays for books.

Descriptio Cambriae (The Description of Wales) (1194)

Whatever else may come to pass, I do not think that on the Day of Direst Judgement any race other than the Welsh, or any other language, will give answer to the Supreme Judge of all for this small corner of the earth.

Descriptio Cambriae (The Description of Wales) (1194)

This seems to me a thing to be noticed, that just as the men of this country are, during this mortal life, more prone to anger and revenge than any other race, so in eternal death the saints of this land, that have been elevated by their merits, are more vindictive than the saints of any other region.

When they come together to make music, the Welsh sing their traditional songs, not in unison, as is done elsewhere, but in parts, in many modes and modulations. When a choir gathers to sing, which happens often in this country, you will hear as many different parts and voices as there are performers.

Descriptio Cambriae (The Description of Wales) (1194)

Giraldus was the youngest of four blood-brothers. And when the three others in their childish games used to build castles and cities and palaces in the sands or mud, as a prelude to their future life, he, as a like prelude, always devoted himself entirely to building churches and to constructing monasteries.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Gerald of Wales (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.