All's fair in love and war
Cf. [1578 Lyly Euphues I. 236] Anye impietie may lawfully be committed in loue, which is lawlesse.
Love and warre are all one. ‥It is lawfull to use sleights and stratagems to‥attaine the wished end.
[1620 T. Shelton tr. Cervantes' Don Quixote ii. xxi.]
In love and war, every stratagem is fair, they say.
[1845 G. P. R. James Smuggler II. iv.]
Then Eulalie's eyes narrowed and she looked hard at her companion. ‘Do you believe that all is fair in love and war?’
[1986 S. Brett Nice Class of Corpse xl.]
All is fair in love and war, and it is important that you sustain your marriage. You must therefore take the following, deceitful steps.
[2002 Spectator 15 June 63]
Related to: fair dealing; love; warfare
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.





