--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if a snake is not poisonous, it…" description: "\"Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.\" — Chanakya" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/chanakya-1643_poisonous_even-if-a-snake-is-not-poisonous-it-shou_1721897.jpg" --- # Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be… ![“Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.” quote by Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/chanakya-1643_poisonous_even-if-a-snake-is-not-poisonous-it-shou_1721897.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/chanakya-1643_poisonous_even-if-a-snake-is-not-poisonous-it-shou_1721897.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/chanakya-1643_poisonous_even-if-a-snake-is-not-poisonous-it-shou_1721897.jpg) > “Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.” [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advice to appear dangerous even if harmless, using intimidation as a protective strategy. **In simple terms:** Pretend to be dangerous to deter threats. Key Takeaway Use reputation strategically. Themes strategy deception defense psychology Mood cautious strategic Type political philosophical When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal safety - political maneuvering - online presence Key Concepts game theory social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is bluffing ethical? - What are the risks of a false reputation? A Different Perspective Dishonesty can erode trust over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Poisonous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisonous/) [Poisonous Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisonous-pretend-1346144/) [Pretend Venomous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend-venomous-1346143/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Snake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snake/) [Snake Poisonous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snake-poisonous-1312322/) [Venomous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venomous/) ## Related quotes > [“A Buddhist teacher once said that a poisonous snake is only poisonous when you walk toward it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gottlieb/a-buddhist-teacher-once-said-that-a-poisonous-snake-is-only-poisonous/) [Daniel Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gottlieb/) > [“A poisonous snake is only poisonous when you walk towards it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gottlieb/a-poisonous-snake-is-only-poisonous-when-you-walk-towards-it/) [Daniel Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gottlieb/) > [There's more to someone being lovable than the way they look." "...he told me that the way you can tell if a bug or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-s-more-to-someone-being-lovable-than-the-way-they-look-he-told/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Hot weather brings out snakes and slaveholders, and I like one class of the venomous creatures as little as I do the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-ann-jacobs/hot-weather-brings-out-snakes-and-slaveholders-and-i-like-one-class/) [Harriet Ann Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-ann-jacobs/) > [You know, you can touch a stick of dynamite, but if you touch a venomous snake it'll turn around and bite you and kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/you-know-you-can-touch-a-stick-of-dynamite-but-if-you-touch-a/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [Snakes are just very instinctive to me. I've been playing with snakes since before I could walk. It doesn't matter where or what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/snakes-are-just-very-instinctive-to-me-i-ve-been-playing-with-snakes/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [“of the most venomous snakes in the Americas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-grann/of-the-most-venomous-snakes-in-the-americas/) [David Grann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-grann/) > [I'd like to make it very clear that getting bitten by a venomous snake is dumb, clumsy and nothing to be proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romulus-whitaker/i-d-like-to-make-it-very-clear-that-getting-bitten-by-a-venomous/) [Romulus Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romulus-whitaker/) > [Other countries may boast of this and that, but nobody can touch the United States for poisonous snakes. 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One moment her mind was as blank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/it-was-strange-how-she-found-out-one-moment-she-didn-t-know-the-next/) [Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/) > [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/) > [Not all the snakes are poisonous and not all the poisons are deadly! Keep this in mind when bitten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/not-all-the-snakes-are-poisonous-and-not-all-the-poisons-are-deadly/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Fly from bad companions as from the bite of a poisonous snake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bosco/fly-from-bad-companions-as-from-the-bite-of-a-poisonous-snake/) [John Bosco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bosco/) ## More by Chanakya > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The ruler should employ person in tasks according to their abilities because Knowers ( or the means ) and efficient employees make impossible tasks also possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/the-ruler-should-employ-person-in-tasks-according-to-their-abilities/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The serpent, the king, the tiger, the stinging wasp, the small child, the dog owned by other people, and the fool: these seven ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/the-serpent-the-king-the-tiger-the-stinging-wasp-the-small-child-the/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Prosperity lasts long for one who acts after proper consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/prosperity-lasts-long-for-one-who-acts-after-proper-consideration/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Learning is like a cow of desire. It, like her, yields in all seasons. Like a mother, it feeds you on your journey. Therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/learning-is-like-a-cow-of-desire-it-like-her-yields-in-all-seasons/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Who realises all the happiness he desires? Everything is in the hands of God. Therefore one should learn contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/who-realises-all-the-happiness-he-desires-everything-is-in-the-hands/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Every relationship has one or the other motive behind it. Friendship or enemity are not purposeless.Oneness of motive is turned into friendship. While diversity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/every-relationship-has-one-or-the-other-motive-behind-it-friendship/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/never-share-your-secrets-with-anybody-it-will-destroy-you/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The beauty of a cuckoo is in its notes, that of a woman in her unalloyed devotion to her husband, that of an ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/the-beauty-of-a-cuckoo-is-in-its-notes-that-of-a-woman-in-her/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Do not be very upright in your dealings for you would see by going to the forest that straight trees are cut down while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/do-not-be-very-upright-in-your-dealings-for-you-would-see-by-going-to/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The happiness and peace attained by those satisfied by the nectar of spiritual tranquillity is not attained by greedy persons restlessly moving here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/the-happiness-and-peace-attained-by-those-satisfied-by-the-nectar-of/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [What good is a cow that neither gives milk nor conceives? Similarly, what is the value of the birth of a son if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/what-good-is-a-cow-that-neither-gives-milk-nor-conceives-similarly/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Sometimes coincidentally an unintelligent person can accomplish a task but that does not mean that he is a knower of means and device or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/sometimes-coincidentally-an-unintelligent-person-can-accomplish-a/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [He whose son is obedient to him, whose wife's conduct is in accordance with his wishes, and who is content with his riches, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/he-whose-son-is-obedient-to-him-whose-wife-s-conduct-is-in-accordance/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Our bodies are perishable, wealth is not at all permanent and death is always nearby. Therefore we must immediately engage in acts of merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/our-bodies-are-perishable-wealth-is-not-at-all-permanent-and-death-is/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) [Explore all 220 Chanakya quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) ## More Poisonous quotes > [You know how they say the grass is always greener on the other side? It is greener, because you're not there. And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ekaterina-sedia/you-know-how-they-say-the-grass-is-always-greener-on-the-other-side/) [Ekaterina Sedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ekaterina-sedia/) > [“There is no substance which is not a poison; all are poisonous. 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Only the dose determines whether something is poisonous or not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-owen/all-things-are-poison-and-nothing-is-without-poison-only-the-dose/) [Joanne Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-owen/) > [Let me explain: there are dragons, and then there are drakons. Drakons are several millennia older than dragons, andmuch larger. They look like giant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/let-me-explain-there-are-dragons-and-then-there-are-drakons-drakons/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Nice creepy reptile,” Frank said, very aware of the driftwood in his coat pocket. “Nice poisonous, fire-breathing reptile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nice-creepy-reptile-frank-said-very-aware-of-the-driftwood-in-his/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“The really pure in heart know nothing of what goes on around them each day, each night; never realize what poisonous weeds spring up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-mauriac/the-really-pure-in-heart-know-nothing-of-what-goes-on-around-them/) [François Mauriac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-mauriac/) > [It was Rachel Carson's famous book 'Silent Spring' that got me involved with the environment. I read it in The New Yorker, in installments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/it-was-rachel-carson-s-famous-book-silent-spring-that-got-me-involved/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [There's more to someone being lovable than the way they look." "...he told me that the way you can tell if a bug or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-s-more-to-someone-being-lovable-than-the-way-they-look-he-told/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Amphibians are dying out like crazy, and frogs and salamanders may be largely extinct by the end of the twenty-first century. Imagine an animal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/amphibians-are-dying-out-like-crazy-and-frogs-and-salamanders-may-be/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [If there be any who nurture in their hearts the poisonous brew of enmity toward another, I plead with you to ask the Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/if-there-be-any-who-nurture-in-their-hearts-the-poisonous-brew-of/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [And the past held only this wisdom: that love was a damaging mistake, and its accomplice, hope, a treacherous illusion. 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