There are laws for peace as well as war.

Hear the voice of Titus Livius, called Livy, the great Roman historian, who gazed upon the rise of a mighty republic and the struggles of empires: “There are laws for peace as well as war.” In this saying, he reminds us that human life is never without order, whether in times of tranquility or in times of strife. Just as armies march to the discipline of command, so too must societies live by rules of conduct in their daily harmony. For freedom without law becomes chaos, and war without restraint becomes barbarity.

The meaning of these words is vast. Men often believe that in peace they may relax vigilance, and that in war they may cast aside all restraint. But Livy declares otherwise: both conditions require law, though of different kinds. In peace, law guards the rights of citizens, secures justice, and preserves the bonds of community. In war, law governs the discipline of soldiers, restrains cruelty, and guides nations in their dealings with both ally and enemy. Thus, whether in calm or in conflict, mankind must be ruled by principles higher than passion, lest it devour itself.

The origin of this reflection is drawn from Rome’s long history. Livy chronicled a city that knew both the glory of victory and the bitterness of civil strife. He saw how Rome survived and prospered not only because of her legions, but because of her devotion to laws—laws that bound her citizens in peace and her armies in war. The Twelve Tables, the earliest Roman code, gave stability at home, while strict military codes gave order abroad. Without these, Rome would have crumbled under her own weight, as countless kingdoms before her had done.

History itself proves Livy’s wisdom. Consider the American Revolution: though born of war, it was preserved by law. The colonists, after driving out the British, might have fallen into anarchy, as had happened in many revolts before. But instead, they bound themselves under a Constitution, giving laws for peace to sustain the liberty won in war. By this, the victory was not only on the battlefield but in the building of a republic that endured.

Yet when the balance is lost, destruction follows. In the French Revolution, the cry for liberty tore down the old order, but when the people cast aside all restraint, blood flowed in rivers. Without laws in peace, they gave way to mob rule; without laws in war, the Reign of Terror consumed even its own children. Livy’s warning becomes clear: without principle, victory rots; without order, freedom collapses into tyranny.

The lesson for us is eternal: whether in the quiet of our homes or the storms of our struggles, we must live by laws—not only the written codes of governments, but the deeper laws of conscience, justice, and virtue. In peace, this means treating others with fairness, respecting order, and honoring truth. In war, this means holding fast to discipline, remembering mercy even in conflict, and never surrendering humanity to hatred.

Therefore, children of the future, live as Livy teaches: keep laws in peace to preserve what is just, and keep laws in war to restrain what is cruel. Do not believe that law is the enemy of liberty—it is its guardian. Do not believe that war cancels law—it demands it all the more. For nations and men alike are judged not only by how they prosper in peace, but by how they conduct themselves in conflict.

So remember always the wisdom of Livy: “There are laws for peace as well as war.” In these laws lies the endurance of civilizations, the safety of peoples, and the honor of generations. Without them, both peace and war descend into ruin. With them, humanity rises to its highest calling.