He that's afraid of wounds must not come nigh a battle.

Anyone who enters a dangerous undertaking must accept that harm or setbacks are possible. Wanting to avoid every wound is incompatible with joining a battle.

More broadly, the proverb urges a person to weigh the risks before taking part in a difficult undertaking. It can also challenge someone who wants to participate but refuses to face its foreseeable costs.

Use it when someone is deciding whether to enter a risky dispute or demanding task, or complains about the ordinary risks after joining one. Its blunt tone may be unhelpful when someone has suffered serious harm.