--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Give me strength, not to be better than…" description: "\"Give me strength, not to be better than my enemies, but to defeat my greatest enemy, the doubts within myself. Give me strength for a straight back and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/anonymous-1_cherokee_give-me-strength-not-to-be-better-than-m_125367.jpg" --- # Give me strength, not to be better than my enemies, but to… ![“Give me strength, not to be better than my enemies, but to defeat my greatest enemy, the doubts within myself. Give me strength for a straight back and clear eyes, so when life fades, as the setting sun, my spirit may come to you without shame.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/anonymous-1_cherokee_give-me-strength-not-to-be-better-than-m_125367.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/anonymous-1_cherokee_give-me-strength-not-to-be-better-than-m_125367.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/anonymous-1_cherokee_give-me-strength-not-to-be-better-than-m_125367.jpg) > “Give me strength, not to be better than my enemies, but to defeat my greatest enemy, the doubts within myself. Give me strength for a straight back and clear eyes, so when life fades, as the setting sun, my spirit may come to you without shame.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seek strength not to surpass others but to overcome internal doubts, maintaining integrity and clarity as life wanes. **In simple terms:** Strength to defeat inner doubts, not enemies. Key Takeaway Inner peace outweighs external competition. Themes self‑confidence inner conflict integrity mortality Mood reflective determined Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - overcoming imposter syndrome - preparing for retirement - spiritual reflection Key Concepts existential psychology Practical Applications - practice mindfulness - reframe self‑criticism Questions to Reflect On - What doubts hold you back? - How can you balance inner work with external responsibilities? A Different Perspective Focus on inner battle may neglect necessary external actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cherokee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherokee/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Setting Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting-sun/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) ## Related quotes > [“We need enough time to rest in order to renew our strength so we can have a better cry next time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-soriano/we-need-enough-time-to-rest-in-order-to-renew-our-strength-so-we-can/) [Jocelyn Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-soriano/) > [“There was a time when I thought I could change everything. I have learned the hard way that we only have so much strength:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chadwick/there-was-a-time-when-i-thought-i-could-change-everything-i-have/) [Elizabeth Chadwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chadwick/) > [It isn't right to judge strength as better than good wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/it-isn-t-right-to-judge-strength-as-better-than-good-wisdom/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [Watch who you trust if you don't have the strength than your better off leaving that emotion to just pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/watch-who-you-trust-if-you-don-t-have-the-strength-than-your-better/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [Lt. Carson: My grandmother was a full-bodied Cherokee Indian. Lili: How exciting. Lt. Carson: It was for my grandfather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lt-carson-my-grandmother-was-a-full-bodied-cherokee-indian-lili-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The love we share, has made us one. From rising moon, to setting sun. On your wings, my heart does soar. Across the sea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-love-we-share-has-made-us-one-from-rising-moon-to-setting-sun-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Diana: "I wish I were rich, and I could spend the whole summer at a hotel, eating ice cream and chicken salad." Anne: "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/diana-i-wish-i-were-rich-and-i-could-spend-the-whole-summer-at-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There were no larks anymore. There was only the setting sun spreading blood up the sky and the yowl of hounds on a breast-high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-were-no-larks-anymore-there-was-only-the-setting-sun-spreading/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I scarcely remember counting upon happiness—I look not for it if it be not in the present hour—nothing startles me beyond the moment. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-scarcely-remember-counting-upon-happiness-i-look-not-for-it-if-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin’s Day will shine upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stand-by-the-grey-stone-when-the-thrush-knocks-and-the-setting-sun/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/everything-an-indian-does-is-in-a-circle-and-that-is-because-the/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [“I come from a family of Cherokee master storytellers. Listening to stories, reading them, and creating new tales is my life. These tales reveal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-ann-barton/i-come-from-a-family-of-cherokee-master-storytellers-listening-to/) Louise Ann Barton > [Negative thoughts were treated by Cherokee healers with the same medicines as wounds, headaches, or physical illness. It was believed that unchecked negative thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/negative-thoughts-were-treated-by-cherokee-healers-with-the-same/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Recorded engine sounds, however, are a deliberate deception. They're like going to a concert and listening to a recording. On the other hand, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-schmemann/recorded-engine-sounds-however-are-a-deliberate-deception-they-re/) [Serge Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-schmemann/) > [“Cherokee's American, Ned. It don't get more American than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/cherokee-s-american-ned-it-don-t-get-more-american-than-that/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Cherokee quotes > [Lt. Carson: My grandmother was a full-bodied Cherokee Indian. Lili: How exciting. Lt. Carson: It was for my grandfather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lt-carson-my-grandmother-was-a-full-bodied-cherokee-indian-lili-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the power of the world always works in circles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/everything-an-indian-does-is-in-a-circle-and-that-is-because-the/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [“I come from a family of Cherokee master storytellers. Listening to stories, reading them, and creating new tales is my life. These tales reveal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-ann-barton/i-come-from-a-family-of-cherokee-master-storytellers-listening-to/) Louise Ann Barton > [Negative thoughts were treated by Cherokee healers with the same medicines as wounds, headaches, or physical illness. It was believed that unchecked negative thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/negative-thoughts-were-treated-by-cherokee-healers-with-the-same/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [“Cherokee's American, Ned. It don't get more American than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-d-estleman/cherokee-s-american-ned-it-don-t-get-more-american-than-that/) [Loren D. Estleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-d-estleman/) > [Recorded engine sounds, however, are a deliberate deception. They're like going to a concert and listening to a recording. On the other hand, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-schmemann/recorded-engine-sounds-however-are-a-deliberate-deception-they-re/) [Serge Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-schmemann/) > [A significant number of people believe tribal people still live and dress as they did 300 years ago. During my tenure as principal chief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/a-significant-number-of-people-believe-tribal-people-still-live-and/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [I'm just another non-native whose mom told him we were part-Cherokee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/i-m-just-another-non-native-whose-mom-told-him-we-were-part-cherokee/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [My father was one-eighth Cherokee indian and my mother was quarter-blood Cherokee. I never got far enough in arithmetic to figure out how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/my-father-was-one-eighth-cherokee-indian-and-my-mother-was-quarter/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [My name is Mankiller, and in the old Cherokee Nation, when we lived here in the Southeast, we lived in semi-autonomous villages, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/my-name-is-mankiller-and-in-the-old-cherokee-nation-when-we-lived/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [ \[last words\] What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crowfoot/last-words-what-is-life-it-is-the-flash-of-a-firefly-in-the-night/) [Crowfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crowfoot/) > [What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crowfoot/what-is-life-it-is-the-flash-of-a-firefly-in-the-night-it-is-the-2/) [Crowfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crowfoot/) > [I'm Irish and Cherokee Indian. I can't faint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-collins/i-m-irish-and-cherokee-indian-i-can-t-faint/) [Lynn Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-collins/) > [Individually and collectively, Cherokee people possess an extraordinary ability to face down adversity and continue moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-mankiller/individually-and-collectively-cherokee-people-possess-an/) [Wilma Mankiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-mankiller/) > [Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. My folks were Indian. Both my mother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/even-if-you-re-on-the-right-track-you-ll-get-run-over-if-you-just-sit/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) [Browse all 56 Cherokee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherokee/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Give me strength, not to be better than my enemies, but to defeat my greatest enemy, the doubts within myself. 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