The best armor is to keep out of range.

This saying is commonly labeled an “Italian proverb” in English-language collections of maxims and military aphorisms. It reflects a long Mediterranean tradition of practical counsel shaped by centuries of city-state warfare, mercenary soldiering, and everyday prudence: survival often depends less on heroic defense than on avoiding needless exposure to danger. In proverb form, it distills a tactical truth familiar to soldiers and civilians alike—distance, discretion, and anticipation can be more protective than any equipment. While widely circulated in modern quotation anthologies, it is typically presented without a traceable first appearance in a specific Italian text or attributable historical speaker.

The proverb argues that prevention is superior to defense. “Armor” stands for protective measures taken after danger is already present; “keep out of range” recommends foresight—choosing distance, discretion, or noninvolvement so that conflict cannot reach you. In social terms it can counsel avoiding quarrels, risky environments, or entanglements that invite retaliation; in moral or strategic terms it favors restraint and prudence over bravado. The line also implies limits to any protection: even the best defenses can fail, so the wiser course is to reduce exposure to threats in the first place.

1) “The best armour is to keep out of range.”
2) “The best armor is to stay out of range.”
3) “The best defense is to keep out of range.”