The man who runs may fight again.

Menander (c. 342–291 BCE), the leading playwright of Athenian New Comedy, is frequently quoted in later antiquity through excerpts, anthologies, and paraphrases rather than complete plays. This maxim is one of the best-known “gnomic” sentiments attributed to him and circulated widely as a proverb about prudence in conflict. It reflects a common Greek moral-practical outlook: retreat can be a rational, even honorable, tactic when it preserves one’s life and capacity to act later. Because Menander’s works survive largely in fragments, the saying often appears detached from a specific dramatic scene and is preserved through later collections of sayings and their Latin counterparts.

The line argues against equating withdrawal with cowardice. To “run” (retreat) is framed as strategic self-preservation: living to fight again can serve a larger goal than a doomed stand. The aphorism values judgment over bravado, suggesting that courage includes knowing when a battle is unwinnable and conserving strength for a better moment. Its enduring appeal lies in its portability beyond warfare—applied to politics, business, and personal conflict—where stepping back can be the condition for future success. The saying also implicitly critiques honor cultures that demand immediate confrontation regardless of consequences.