--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am like a snake who has already bitten…" description: "\"I am like a snake who has already bitten. I retreat from a direct battle while knowing the slow effect of the poison.\" — Anais Nin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/anais-nin-288_battle_i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten_1904738.png" --- # I am like a snake who has already bitten. I retreat from a… ![“I am like a snake who has already bitten. I retreat from a direct battle while knowing the slow effect of the poison.” quote by Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/anais-nin-288_battle_i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten_1904738.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/anais-nin-288_battle_i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten_1904738.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/anais-nin-288_battle_i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten_1904738.png) > “I am like a snake who has already bitten. I retreat from a direct battle while knowing the slow effect of the poison.” [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A speaker compares themselves to a self‑poisoning snake, avoiding confrontation while the damage spreads slowly. **In simple terms:** Avoiding conflict can still cause hidden harm. Key Takeaway Beware of indirect damage. Themes conflict self‑sabotage psychology Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace dynamics - political negotiations Key Concepts poison metaphor delayed consequences Questions to Reflect On - What hidden effects are you allowing to fester? - How can you address issues before they become toxic? A Different Perspective Direct confrontation may be necessary to stop the slow harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Snakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snakes/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The effect of that is to poison the flow of information to the President himself and to create a situation where a President can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ellsberg/the-effect-of-that-is-to-poison-the-flow-of-information-to-the/) [Daniel Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ellsberg/) > [The hearings are just like a snake about to devour people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/the-hearings-are-just-like-a-snake-about-to-devour-people/) [Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/) > [The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-thing-about-words-is-that-meanings-can-twist-just-like-a-snake/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [In the morning I'm like a snake in the spring: I need to lie out on a warm rock and let the sun sink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/in-the-morning-i-m-like-a-snake-in-the-spring-i-need-to-lie-out-on-a/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [I've been bitten twice by snakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-brock/i-ve-been-bitten-twice-by-snakes/) Tony Brock > [The palpable sense of mystery in the desert air breeds fables, chiefly of lost treasure. ... It is a question whether it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hunter-austin/the-palpable-sense-of-mystery-in-the-desert-air-breeds-fables-chiefly/) [Mary Hunter Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hunter-austin/) > [I've never been in a situation where I had to run for my life, but I've been bitten by a lot of poisonous snakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-ve-never-been-in-a-situation-where-i-had-to-run-for-my-life-but-i/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [“People get bitten. But I won't.' I found myself saying, 'You will, you will. These snakes don't know you find death inconceivable. They don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/people-get-bitten-but-i-won-t-i-found-myself-saying-you-will-you-will/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“addiction is an insidious disease that's always lurking nearby like a snake ready to strike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gramm/addiction-is-an-insidious-disease-that-s-always-lurking-nearby-like-a/) [Lou Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gramm/) > [“this thing upon me crawling like a snake, terrifying my love of commonness, some call Art some call Poetry; it’s not death but dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-thing-upon-me-crawling-like-a-snake-terrifying-my-love-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Like a snake creeping through the undergrowth, I sneak into the law school well past noon and hours after both of my scheduled classes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/like-a-snake-creeping-through-the-undergrowth-i-sneak-into-the-law/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“with a torn quilt coiled around him like a snake suffocating its prey. Beads”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-kozinn/with-a-torn-quilt-coiled-around-him-like-a-snake-suffocating-its-prey/) [Nat Kozinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-kozinn/) > [“Your life is like this snake's coils. No matter how many turns it makes, you'll end up back where you belong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/your-life-is-like-this-snake-s-coils-no-matter-how-many-turns-it/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [Propaganda is a soft weapon; hold it in your hands too long, and it will move about like a snake, and strike the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anouilh/propaganda-is-a-soft-weapon-hold-it-in-your-hands-too-long-and-it/) [Jean Anouilh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anouilh/) > [Self-love for ever creeps out, like a snake, to sting anything which happens to stumble upon it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/self-love-for-ever-creeps-out-like-a-snake-to-sting-anything-which/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) ## More by Anais Nin > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“…For love it is never the same. What goes on inside is never the same just like this music which changes every instant. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/for-love-it-is-never-the-same-what-goes-on-inside-is-never-the-same/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body's breath, and the strings' wails and moans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-music-of-the-body-the-breath-comes-through-brass-it-is/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I have so strong a sense of creation, of tomorrow, that I cannot get drunk, knowing I will be less alive, less well, less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-have-so-strong-a-sense-of-creation-of-tomorrow-that-i-cannot-get/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [We don't have a language for the senses. Feelings are images, sensations are like musical sounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/we-don-t-have-a-language-for-the-senses-feelings-are-images/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Strange, isn't it, that no chemical will give a human being the iridescence that illusions have given them? Give me your hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/strange-isn-t-it-that-no-chemical-will-give-a-human-being-the/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The personal, if it is deep enough, becomes universal, mythical, symbolic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-personal-if-it-is-deep-enough-becomes-universal-mythical-symbolic/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Introspection is a devouring monster. You have to feed it with much material, much experience, many people, many places, many loves, many creations, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/introspection-is-a-devouring-monster-you-have-to-feed-it-with-much/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [In each studio there is a human being dressed in the full regalia of his myth fearing to expore a vulnerable opening, spreading not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/in-each-studio-there-is-a-human-being-dressed-in-the-full-regalia-of/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I don't mind working, holding my ground intellectually, artistically; but as a woman, oh, God, as a woman I want to be dominated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-don-t-mind-working-holding-my-ground-intellectually-artistically/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“Laughter and tears are not separate experiences, with intervals of rest: they rush out together and it is like walking with a sword between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/laughter-and-tears-are-not-separate-experiences-with-intervals-of/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The basis of insincerity is the idealized image we hold of ourselves and wish to impose on others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-basis-of-insincerity-is-the-idealized-image-we-hold-of-ourselves/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I write emotional algebra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-write-emotional-algebra/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The role of the writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say. Most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-role-of-the-writer-is-not-to-say-what-we-can-all-say-but-what-we/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I say quotations are literary. They are good only when dealing with ideas, not with experience. Experience should be pure, unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-say-quotations-are-literary-they-are-good-only-when-dealing-with/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) [Explore all 715 Anais Nin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am like a snake who has already bitten. I retreat from a direct battle while knowing the slow effect of the poison.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anais Nin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten-i-retreat-from-a-direct/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten-i-retreat-from-a-direct/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/anais-nin-288_battle_i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten_1904738.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/anais-nin-288_battle_i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten_1904738.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ab/anais-nin-288_battle_i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten_1904738.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am like a snake who has already bitten. I retreat from a direct battle while knowing the slow effect of…” — Anais Nin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anais Nin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am like a snake who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten-i-retreat-from-a-direct/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-am-like-a-snake-who-has-already-bitten-i-retreat-from-a-direct/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```