Peace is to be secured by victory, not by negotiation. Cicero's Writings.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) Lasting peace is established not through concession or negotiation from a position of weakness, but through the decisive assertion of right — victory secures what diplomacy alone cannot.

Where this applies

• A nation attempts to negotiate a treaty with an aggressor who has already invaded its territory, but the aggressor uses the negotiations to buy time for further conquest — only a decisive military victory can secure lasting peace.
• A city council tries to negotiate with a gang demanding protection money from local businesses; the negotiations only embolden the gang, while decisive law enforcement action restores order.
• A homeowner's association tries to negotiate with a developer who is illegally encroaching on common land, but the developer stalls while continuing to build — only a court injunction and enforced judgment secures the community's rights.