Posted by ESC on April 04, 2001 In Reply to: All's fair in love
and war posted by steppi on April 04, 2001 : Does anyone know
the origin of the phrase "All's fair in love and war". Is there
a literature background? thanks ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR --
"The rules of fair play do not apply in love and war. The
proverb has been traced back to John Lyly's 'Euphues' . First
attested in the United States in 'Horse-Shoe Robinson' . The
proverb is found in varying forms. The proverb is frequently
used to justify cheating." From "Random House Dictionary of
Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman ( Random
House, N.Y., 1996).