Question

What does it mean, “to the victors, come the spoils of war ?”

Answer 1

The victors, or people who win, get the spoils, as in the "prizes" or good things that come out of the war.

Answer 2

What this phrase means is that only those who win a war actually enjoy any benefits from it. A war is usually associated with sadness and although this is the case, a war can also bring some benefits. However, this phrase tells us that only the victors benefit from these advantages, while the losers often deal with destruction and suffering only.