--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A rule of thumb for a warrior is that he…" description: "\"A rule of thumb for a warrior is that he makes his decisions so carefully that nothing that may happen as a result of them can surprise him, much less ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/carlos-castaneda-1384_carefully_a-rule-of-thumb-for-a-warrior-is-that-he_2999831.jpg" --- # A rule of thumb for a warrior is that he makes his… ![“A rule of thumb for a warrior is that he makes his decisions so carefully that nothing that may happen as a result of them can surprise him, much less drain his power.” quote by Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/carlos-castaneda-1384_carefully_a-rule-of-thumb-for-a-warrior-is-that-he_2999831.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/carlos-castaneda-1384_carefully_a-rule-of-thumb-for-a-warrior-is-that-he_2999831.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/carlos-castaneda-1384_carefully_a-rule-of-thumb-for-a-warrior-is-that-he_2999831.jpg) > “A rule of thumb for a warrior is that he makes his decisions so carefully that nothing that may happen as a result of them can surprise him, much less drain his power.” [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A warrior must anticipate all possible outcomes to avoid being caught off‑guard and losing strength. **In simple terms:** Plan ahead to stay powerful. Key Takeaway Anticipate consequences. Themes discipline strategy self‑control Mood focused determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - military planning - business decisions - personal conflict resolution Key Concepts Stoicism risk management Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance thoroughness with adaptability? - When does caution become fear? A Different Perspective Over‑planning can stifle flexibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-warrior/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warrior/) ## Related quotes > [“Some decisions are carefully constructed towers of logic framed in lists of pros and cons, shingled in trusted advice. Ching, G. P.. Grounded (The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-p-ching/some-decisions-are-carefully-constructed-towers-of-logic-framed-in/) [G.P. Ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-p-ching/) > [Intent is what can make a man succeed when his thoughts tell him that he is defeated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/intent-is-what-can-make-a-man-succeed-when-his-thoughts-tell-him-that/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Challenges cannot possibly be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/challenges-cannot-possibly-be-good-or-bad-challenges-are-simply/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [A warrior seeks to act rather than talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-warrior-seeks-to-act-rather-than-talk/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [A warrior must learn to make every act count, since he is going to be here in this world for only a short while,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-warrior-must-learn-to-make-every-act-count-since-he-is-going-to-be/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [For a warrior, to be inaccessible means that he touches the world around him sparingly. And above all, he deliberately avoids exhausting himselfand others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/for-a-warrior-to-be-inaccessible-means-that-he-touches-the-world/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Intent is not a thought, or an object, or a wish. Intent is what can make a man succeed when his thoughts tell him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/intent-is-not-a-thought-or-an-object-or-a-wish-intent-is-what-can/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Intent is what sends a shaman through a wall, through space, to infinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/intent-is-what-sends-a-shaman-through-a-wall-through-space-to-infinity/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [The spirit of a warrior is not geared to indulging and complaining, nor is it geared to winning or losing. The spirit of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-spirit-of-a-warrior-is-not-geared-to-indulging-and-complaining/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Warriors do not win victories by beating their heads against walls, but by overtaking the walls. Warriors jump over walls; they don't demolish them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/warriors-do-not-win-victories-by-beating-their-heads-against-walls/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Feeling important makes one heavy, clumsy and vain. To be a warrior one needs to be light and fluid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/feeling-important-makes-one-heavy-clumsy-and-vain-to-be-a-warrior-one/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [The hardest thing in the world is to assume the mood of a warrior. It is of no use to be sad and complain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-hardest-thing-in-the-world-is-to-assume-the-mood-of-a-warrior-it/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Whenever a warrior decides to do something, he must go all the way, but he must take responsibility for what he does. No matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/whenever-a-warrior-decides-to-do-something-he-must-go-all-the-way-but/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“What seems like weakness to a survivalist is actually a sign of strength to a spiritual warrior who longs to be authentic at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-brown/what-seems-like-weakness-to-a-survivalist-is-actually-a-sign-of/) [Jeff Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-brown/) > [“You can appreciate your life, even if it is an imperfect situation. Perhaps your apartment is run down and your furniture is old and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-appreciate-your-life-even-if-it-is-an-imperfect-situation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Carlos Castaneda > [A warrior, or any man for that matter, cannot possibly wish he were somewhere else; a warrior because he lives by challenge, an ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-warrior-or-any-man-for-that-matter-cannot-possibly-wish-he-were/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [You see all of us go through the same doubts. We are afraid of being mad; unfortunately for us, of course, all of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/you-see-all-of-us-go-through-the-same-doubts-we-are-afraid-of-being/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Intent is what can make a man succeed when his thoughts tell him that he is defeated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/intent-is-what-can-make-a-man-succeed-when-his-thoughts-tell-him-that/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [One can say that the nagual accounts for creativity. The nagual is the only part of us that can create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/one-can-say-that-the-nagual-accounts-for-creativity-the-nagual-is-the/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Do you know at this very moment you are surrounded by eternity? And do you know that you can use that eternity if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/do-you-know-at-this-very-moment-you-are-surrounded-by-eternity-and-do/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [When a warrior learns to stop the internal dialogue, everything becomes possible; the most far-fetched schemes become attainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/when-a-warrior-learns-to-stop-the-internal-dialogue-everything/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Nothing in this world is a gift. Whatever must be learned must be learned the hard way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/nothing-in-this-world-is-a-gift-whatever-must-be-learned-must-be/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Our normal expectations about reality are created by a social consensus. We are taught how to see and understand the world. The trick of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/our-normal-expectations-about-reality-are-created-by-a-social/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Inner silence works from the moment you begin to accrue it. What the old sorcerers were after was the final dramatic, end result of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/inner-silence-works-from-the-moment-you-begin-to-accrue-it-what-the/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [In a world where death is the hunter, my friend, there is no time for regrets or doubts. There is only time for decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/in-a-world-where-death-is-the-hunter-my-friend-there-is-no-time-for/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Fright is something one can never get over. When a warrior is caught in such a tight spot he would simply turn his back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/fright-is-something-one-can-never-get-over-when-a-warrior-is-caught/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [You're in a terrible spot. It's too late for you to retreat but too soon to act. All you can do is witness. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/you-re-in-a-terrible-spot-it-s-too-late-for-you-to-retreat-but-too/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [A hunter that is worth his salt does not catch game because he sets his traps, or because he knows the hunting routines of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-hunter-that-is-worth-his-salt-does-not-catch-game-because-he-sets/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [If you were a warrior, you would know that the worst thing one can do is confront human beings directly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/if-you-were-a-warrior-you-would-know-that-the-worst-thing-one-can-do/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) [Explore all 244 Carlos Castaneda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) ## More Carefully quotes > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. 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