--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never compete with someone who has…" description: "\"Never compete with someone who has nothing to lose.\" — Baltasar Gracian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/baltasar-gracian-1090_compete_never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothi_3183501.jpg" --- # Never compete with someone who has nothing to lose. ![“Never compete with someone who has nothing to lose.” quote by Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/baltasar-gracian-1090_compete_never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothi_3183501.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/baltasar-gracian-1090_compete_never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothi_3183501.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/baltasar-gracian-1090_compete_never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothi_3183501.jpg) > “Never compete with someone who has nothing to lose.” [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoid rivalry with those who have no stakes, because they can act without fear and cause unpredictable harm. **In simple terms:** Don't fight people with nothing to lose. Key Takeaway Stay clear of reckless opponents. Themes strategy risk power dynamics Mood cautious analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal relationships - political conflicts - legal disputes Key Concepts pragmatism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess an opponent's motivations? - What safeguards can you set when stakes are low? A Different Perspective Even riskless opponents may still be outmaneuvered with careful planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Thankfully, it became clear to me that when I compete, I lose my connection to the passion I have for my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/thankfully-it-became-clear-to-me-that-when-i-compete-i-lose-my/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [I'm not into any show that makes people compete when they lose weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-m-not-into-any-show-that-makes-people-compete-when-they-lose-weight/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) > [Well, you can't compete with a six foot five man in a wig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shemar-moore/well-you-can-t-compete-with-a-six-foot-five-man-in-a-wig/) [Shemar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shemar-moore/) > [It's very difficult today for girls to become supermodels. There is a lot more competition, a lot of countries in the East have opened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-schiffer/it-s-very-difficult-today-for-girls-to-become-supermodels-there-is-a/) [Claudia Schiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-schiffer/) > [Sometimes its better to lose happy than to win unhappy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milana-may/sometimes-its-better-to-lose-happy-than-to-win-unhappy/) [Milana May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milana-may/) > [Practice like it's competition and compete like it's another day on the practice court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/practice-like-it-s-competition-and-compete-like-it-s-another-day-on/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [Competition is an example of separation, you fight to compete and you have not won, even when you think you won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sitara-devi/competition-is-an-example-of-separation-you-fight-to-compete-and-you/) [Sitara Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sitara-devi/) > [Honestly, we’ll compete with everybody. I love competition. As long as people invent their own stuff, I love competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/honestly-we-ll-compete-with-everybody-i-love-competition-as-long-as/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I love the competition, and if I can continue to compete and give myself a chance to win tournaments, I'll still play out here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-watson/i-love-the-competition-and-if-i-can-continue-to-compete-and-give/) [Tom Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-watson/) > [“Leaders don’t compete. They are too secure to compete.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-saagar-rao/leaders-don-t-compete-they-are-too-secure-to-compete/) Krishna Saagar Rao > [The wise man doesn't compete; therefore nobody can compete with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-wise-man-doesn-t-compete-therefore-nobody-can-compete-with-him/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“The secret to unseating great power, is not to move the other direction, but to compete directly against their goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-secret-to-unseating-great-power-is-not-to-move-the-other/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [They'll always find somebody for me to fight. Whether I win or lose, they'll find somebody to fight, and I'll compete. I'll make money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrious-johnson/they-ll-always-find-somebody-for-me-to-fight-whether-i-win-or-lose/) [Demetrious Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrious-johnson/) > [If after giving it all that you possibly can, you do lose to the competition, then they really deserve the win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabil-n-jamal/if-after-giving-it-all-that-you-possibly-can-you-do-lose-to-the/) [Nabil N Jamal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabil-n-jamal/) > [I was 16, I just wanted to do something in my life. I wanted to be healthy, I wanted to lose some weight and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-was-16-i-just-wanted-to-do-something-in-my-life-i-wanted-to-be/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) ## More by Baltasar Gracian > [To be at ease is better than to be at business. Nothing really belongs to us but time, which even he has who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/to-be-at-ease-is-better-than-to-be-at-business-nothing-really-belongs/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [It requires as much to tell the truth as to conceal it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-requires-as-much-to-tell-the-truth-as-to-conceal-it/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [There are friendships merely for pleasure, some for the exchange of ideas. Rarest are those friends of one's inmost self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/there-are-friendships-merely-for-pleasure-some-for-the-exchange-of/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [What is not seen is as if it was not. Even the Right does not receive proper consideration if it does not seem right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/what-is-not-seen-is-as-if-it-was-not-even-the-right-does-not-receive/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [What the multitude says, is so, or soon will be so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/what-the-multitude-says-is-so-or-soon-will-be-so/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the other one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/a-synonym-is-a-word-you-use-when-you-can-t-spell-the-other-one/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [It is good to vary in order that you may frustrate the curious, especially those who envy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/it-is-good-to-vary-in-order-that-you-may-frustrate-the-curious/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Hope has a good memory, gratitude a bad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/hope-has-a-good-memory-gratitude-a-bad-one/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Knowing how to keep a friend is more important than gaining a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/knowing-how-to-keep-a-friend-is-more-important-than-gaining-a-new-one/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Leave your luck while still winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/leave-your-luck-while-still-winning/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Superiority is always detested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/superiority-is-always-detested/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [“We have eyelids but not earlids, for the ears are the portals of learning, and Nature wanted to keep them wide open.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/we-have-eyelids-but-not-earlids-for-the-ears-are-the-portals-of/) [Baltasar Gracián](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [The wise persono would rather see others needing him than thanking him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/the-wise-persono-would-rather-see-others-needing-him-than-thanking-him/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [No one demands more caution than a spy, and when someone has the skeleton key to minds, counter him by leaving the key of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/no-one-demands-more-caution-than-a-spy-and-when-someone-has-the/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Keep the extent of your abilities unknown.The wise man does not allow his knowledge and abilities to be sounded to the bottom, if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/keep-the-extent-of-your-abilities-unknown-the-wise-man-does-not-allow/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) [Explore all 288 Baltasar Gracian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) ## More Compete quotes > [Honestly, we’ll compete with everybody. I love competition. As long as people invent their own stuff, I love competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/honestly-we-ll-compete-with-everybody-i-love-competition-as-long-as/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [You don't go into the game to compete. You go into each game to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-newton/you-don-t-go-into-the-game-to-compete-you-go-into-each-game-to-win/) [Cam Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-newton/) > [The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-way-of-the-sage-is-to-act-but-not-to-compete/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [For me, it's more important to bring my level up and make sure that I can compete against guys in the top 100 and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-shapovalov/for-me-it-s-more-important-to-bring-my-level-up-and-make-sure-that-i/) [Denis Shapovalov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-shapovalov/) > [I love to compete. That's the essence of who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/i-love-to-compete-that-s-the-essence-of-who-i-am/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [When I was young, all I wanted to do was to compete, have fun and travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-gaylord/when-i-was-young-all-i-wanted-to-do-was-to-compete-have-fun-and-travel/) [Mitch Gaylord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-gaylord/) > [“The secret to unseating great power, is not to move the other direction, but to compete directly against their goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-secret-to-unseating-great-power-is-not-to-move-the-other/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [There are a lot of champions out there, a lot of great guys, but I think that the way I compete and my fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-pettis/there-are-a-lot-of-champions-out-there-a-lot-of-great-guys-but-i/) [Anthony Pettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-pettis/) > [“Successful people compete against themselves, not against other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/successful-people-compete-against-themselves-not-against-other-people/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [Most people should be given a chance to compete in the Olympic Games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-the-eagle/most-people-should-be-given-a-chance-to-compete-in-the-olympic-games/) [Eddie the Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-the-eagle/) > [The hardest skill to acquire in this sport is the one where you compete all out, give it all you have, and you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-reese/the-hardest-skill-to-acquire-in-this-sport-is-the-one-where-you/) Eddie Reese > [They wanted me to lead these young players, teach them the way to compete, when the only thing I should be worried about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kinsler/they-wanted-me-to-lead-these-young-players-teach-them-the-way-to/) Ian Kinsler > [For some people, success is a zero sum game. They think that if they push other people out of the way, fewer people can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lelia-bundles/for-some-people-success-is-a-zero-sum-game-they-think-that-if-they/) [A'Lelia Bundles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lelia-bundles/) > [We can't live true to our set of values unless American educational system is strong. I really believe that if we don't get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/we-can-t-live-true-to-our-set-of-values-unless-american-educational/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I write what I like to read, and I enjoy love triangles in YA and adult fiction - not to mention in other media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/i-write-what-i-like-to-read-and-i-enjoy-love-triangles-in-ya-and/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) Browse all 999 Compete quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never compete with someone who has nothing to lose.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Baltasar Gracian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothing-to-lose/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compete" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothing-to-lose/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/baltasar-gracian-1090_compete_never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothi_3183501.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/baltasar-gracian-1090_compete_never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothi_3183501.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/baltasar-gracian-1090_compete_never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothi_3183501.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never compete with someone who has nothing to lose.” — Baltasar Gracian", "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": "Baltasar Gracian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never compete with someone who has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothing-to-lose/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/never-compete-with-someone-who-has-nothing-to-lose/#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 } } ] } ```