热衷于战争必然灭亡，而忘记战争必然危险。亦即是说，好战的国家必然导致自身灭亡，而没有战备的国家又会使自己处于危险境地。“好战”是指为了自身利益，不顾道义，热衷于对外挑起冲突和战争；“忘战”是指忘记战争可能降临到自己头上，不做相应准备。这句话，既表明了战争与国家兴衰的辩证法，也彰显了中华民族爱好和平的“文”的精神。
Those Who Like to Go to War Will Perish;
Those Who Forget War Will Be in Danger
Those who are warmongering will inevitably be destroyed, and those who forget war will inevitably land in danger. That is, countries that like to make war are certain to bring destruction upon themselves, and countries which are not prepared for war will find themselves in dangerous situations. Haozhan refers to those who are keen to stir up conflicts and wars externally for their own interests and in disregard of moral principles; wangzhan is to forget that war may befall oneself and thus fail to be appropriately prepared for it. This phrase both illustrates the dialectical relationship between war and the rise and fall of countries and demonstrates the "civil" nature of the Chinese people who love peace.
引例
故国虽大，好战必亡；天下虽安，忘战必危。天下既平，天下大恺，春蒐秋狝，诸侯春振旅，秋治兵，所以不忘战也。（《司马法·仁本》）（所以，国家虽然强大，但如果热衷于战争，必然会灭亡；天下虽然安宁，但如果忘记战争危险的存在，必然会使自己处于危险境地。即使天下已经太平，百姓生活安乐，每年春秋两季天子还是要用打猎进行军事演习，各诸侯国也要在春秋整顿军队和进行军事训练，这都是为了不忘战争的存在。）
Therefore though a country be powerful, if it is fond of war it will surely perish; though the land be at peace, those who forget war will inevitably be in danger. Hence even when there is peace throughout the land and the people lead settled lives, hunting is conducted in the spring and fall as military exercises. The vassal states train their troops and hold military drills in the spring and fall so that they do not forget war. (The General Commander's Treatise on War)
