He that's afraid of wounds must not come nigh a battle.
He that's afraid of wounds must not come nigh a battle.
Meaning in plain English
An undertaking with known hazards may require accepting some exposure to them. Battle and wounds make that point forcefully, without requiring someone to take an unreasonable risk or treating caution as cowardice.
Example
An amateur performer worries about making a mistake on stage, rehearses the difficult section and decides whether the small public performance is a challenge they want to take on.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The battle represents an activity whose dangers cannot simply be removed by wishing them away. Someone who enters it may encounter the very outcome they fear. Figuratively, the proverb asks whether a person understands what participating involves before committing. Its practical value is preparation and a considered choice, rather than a demand to ignore danger. Risks can sometimes be reduced, and declining an undertaking may be sensible. The image does not establish that every ambitious project is dangerous or that people must endure injury to prove their courage. Assessing the particular hazard matters more than admiring the language of battle.
When to use it
Use it when discussing whether the demands of an undertaking fit someone’s willingness to participate.
Keep in mind
Knowing a risk does not make it acceptable; precautions, alternatives and refusal remain legitimate.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-04. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 12 · Afraid of wounds
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗