--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fundamental principle is that no…" description: "\"The fundamental principle is that no battle, combat, or skirmish is to be fought unless it will be won.\" — Che Guevara" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/che-guevara-2007_battle_the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-bat_2504977.jpg" --- # The fundamental principle is that no battle, combat, or… ![“The fundamental principle is that no battle, combat, or skirmish is to be fought unless it will be won.” quote by Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/che-guevara-2007_battle_the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-bat_2504977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/che-guevara-2007_battle_the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-bat_2504977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/che-guevara-2007_battle_the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-bat_2504977.jpg) > “The fundamental principle is that no battle, combat, or skirmish is to be fought unless it will be won.” [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only engage in conflict when victory is assured, avoiding futile loss. **In simple terms:** Fight only when you can win. Key Takeaway Choose battles wisely. Themes strategy war risk decisionmaking Mood determined pragmatic Type strategic motivational When to use this quote - political campaigns - business negotiations - personal conflicts - legal disputes Key Concepts military theory probability resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - What battles have you avoided that might have been winnable? - How do you assess odds before acting? A Different Perspective May overlook opportunities that seem risky but could yield growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battle Combat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-combat-1099015/) [Combat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combat/) [Fought Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fought-unless-1099014/) [Fundamental principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-principle/) [Fundamental principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-principles/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Principle Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-battle-1099013/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [I am willing to take any measures when it comes to the fundamental principle of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-am-willing-to-take-any-measures-when-it-comes-to-the-fundamental/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [In the most civilized and progressive countries freedom of discussion is recognized as a fundamental principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-m-joad/in-the-most-civilized-and-progressive-countries-freedom-of-discussion/) [C. E. M. Joad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-m-joad/) > [This is an eternal and fundamental principle, inherent in all things, in every system of philosophy, in every religion, and in every science. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-haanel/this-is-an-eternal-and-fundamental-principle-inherent-in-all-things/) [Charles F. Haanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-haanel/) > [I believe the declaration that ‘all men are created equal’ is the great fundamental principle upon which our free institutions rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-believe-the-declaration-that-all-men-are-created-equal-is-the-great/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The fundamental principle of our constitution ... enjoins the sense of command, duty that the will of the majority shall prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-fundamental-principle-of-our-constitution-enjoins-the-sense-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Another fundamental principle taught by the Law of Moses is this: Wrong cannot be ascribed to God in any way whatever; all evils and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/another-fundamental-principle-taught-by-the-law-of-moses-is-this/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [The fundamental principle of human action, the law, that is to political economy what the law of gravitation is to physics is that men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george/the-fundamental-principle-of-human-action-the-law-that-is-to/) [Henry George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-george/) > [The fundamental principle of science, the definition almost, is this: the sole test of the validity of any idea is experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-fundamental-principle-of-science-the-definition-almost-is-this/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mental synthesis of psychic content in the unity of a moment-consciousness is a fundamental principle of psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/mental-synthesis-of-psychic-content-in-the-unity-of-a-moment/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [It is clear that the main tenet of socialism, community of goods, must be utterly rejected, since it only injures those whom it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-is-clear-that-the-main-tenet-of-socialism-community-of-goods-must/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Friendship is the grand fundamental principle of Mormonism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/friendship-is-the-grand-fundamental-principle-of-mormonism/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [What is the structure of government that will best guard against the precipitate counsels and factious combinations for unjust purposes, without a sacrifice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/what-is-the-structure-of-government-that-will-best-guard-against-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [There is a fundamental principle. People have the right to defend their country from foreign occupiers, and people have the right to defend their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/there-is-a-fundamental-principle-people-have-the-right-to-defend/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [Fundamentally, Buddhism is for the awakenment and benefit of beings. So, you can't say, "Oh, you can't have it because you're not ready for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/fundamentally-buddhism-is-for-the-awakenment-and-benefit-of-beings-so/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) ## More by Che Guevara > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [I am not Christ or a philanthropist, old lady, I am all the contrary of a Christ I fight for the things I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/i-am-not-christ-or-a-philanthropist-old-lady-i-am-all-the-contrary-of/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [I know you are here to kill me. Shoot, coward, you are only going to kill a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/i-know-you-are-here-to-kill-me-shoot-coward-you-are-only-going-to/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [Each spilt drop of blood, in any country under whose flag one has not been born, is an experience passed on to those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/each-spilt-drop-of-blood-in-any-country-under-whose-flag-one-has-not/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [We have no right to believe that freedom can be won without struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/we-have-no-right-to-believe-that-freedom-can-be-won-without-struggle/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [I am one of those people who believes that the solution to the world's problems is to be found behind the Iron Curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/i-am-one-of-those-people-who-believes-that-the-solution-to-the-world/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [We will not accept any conditions from the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/we-will-not-accept-any-conditions-from-the-u-s/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [Let's liquidate all the atomic bases in Cuba and in the U.S. and we are in complete agreement with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/let-s-liquidate-all-the-atomic-bases-in-cuba-and-in-the-u-s-and-we/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [How is it possible to feel nostalgia for a world I never knew?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/how-is-it-possible-to-feel-nostalgia-for-a-world-i-never-knew/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [I have sworn before a picture of the old and mourned comrade Stalin that I won’t rest until I see these capitalist octopuses annihilated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/i-have-sworn-before-a-picture-of-the-old-and-mourned-comrade-stalin/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [We sold sugar with the specific conditions established by American buyers, which in turn dominated the internal market and production in Cuba. Now if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/we-sold-sugar-with-the-specific-conditions-established-by-american/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [I think harmonious relations with the U.S. would be very good for us from the economical point of view, more than in any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/i-think-harmonious-relations-with-the-u-s-would-be-very-good-for-us/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [My nostrils dilate while savoring the acrid odor of gunpowder and blood… Crazy with fury I will stain my rifle red while slaughtering any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/my-nostrils-dilate-while-savoring-the-acrid-odor-of-gunpowder-and/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [In fact, if Christ himself stood in my way, I, like Nietzsche, would not hesitate to squish him like a worm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/in-fact-if-christ-himself-stood-in-my-way-i-like-nietzsche-would-not/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [Democracy is not compatible with financial oligarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/democracy-is-not-compatible-with-financial-oligarchy/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) [Explore all 189 Che Guevara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) ## 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": "The fundamental principle is that no battle, combat, or skirmish is to be fought unless it will be won.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Che Guevara" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-battle-combat-or-skirmish-is-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-battle-combat-or-skirmish-is-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/che-guevara-2007_battle_the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-bat_2504977.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/che-guevara-2007_battle_the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-bat_2504977.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/che-guevara-2007_battle_the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-bat_2504977.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The fundamental principle is that no battle, combat, or skirmish is to be fought unless it will be won.” — Che Guevara", "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": "Che Guevara", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The fundamental principle is that no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-battle-combat-or-skirmish-is-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/the-fundamental-principle-is-that-no-battle-combat-or-skirmish-is-to/#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 } } ] } ```