--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I wish to wrest an advantage from the…" description: "\"If I wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, I must not fix my mind on that alone, but allow for the possibility of the enemy also doing some harm t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b53/du-mu-51397_ability_if-i-wish-to-wrest-an-advantage-from-the_475051.png" --- # If I wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, I must not… ![“If I wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, I must not fix my mind on that alone, but allow for the possibility of the enemy also doing some harm to me... If I wish to extricate myself from a dangerous position, I must consider not only the enemy's ability to injure me, but also my own ability…” quote by Du Mu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b53/du-mu-51397_ability_if-i-wish-to-wrest-an-advantage-from-the_475051.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b53/du-mu-51397_ability_if-i-wish-to-wrest-an-advantage-from-the_475051.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b53/du-mu-51397_ability_if-i-wish-to-wrest-an-advantage-from-the_475051.png) > “If I wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, I must not fix my mind on that alone, but allow for the possibility of the enemy also doing some harm to me... If I wish to extricate myself from a dangerous position, I must consider not only the enemy's ability to injure me, but also my own ability to gain an advantage over the enemy.” [Du Mu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-mu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strategic thinking requires anticipating both enemy actions and your own capabilities to gain advantage. **In simple terms:** Think about both opponent and yourself when planning. Key Takeaway Plan with flexibility and self‑assessment. Themes strategy anticipation self‑awareness conflict Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - military planning - business competition - negotiations - personal conflicts Key Concepts tactical foresight dual perspective risk management Questions to Reflect On - What strengths can you leverage against challenges? - How might you adapt if the enemy changes tactics? A Different Perspective Focusing only on the enemy can lead to tunnel vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“If we wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, we must not fix our minds on that alone, but allow for the possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-we-wish-to-wrest-an-advantage-from-the-enemy-we-must-not-fix-our/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The renunciation of doing harm is the perfection of discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/the-renunciation-of-doing-harm-is-the-perfection-of-discipline/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [But we have gone so far in the direction of over treating terminal patients that we've failed to recognize when we're doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-fink/but-we-have-gone-so-far-in-the-direction-of-over-treating-terminal/) [Sheri Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-fink/) > [The most useful members of a church are usually those who would be doing harm if they were not doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-most-useful-members-of-a-church-are-usually-those-who-would-be/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Haunted from my early youth by the transitoriness and pathos of life, I was aware that it is not enough to say "I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-asquith/haunted-from-my-early-youth-by-the-transitoriness-and-pathos-of-life/) [Margot Asquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-asquith/) > [“It is strange, and perhaps sad, that medical doctors came up with this terminology when they are charged with first doing no harm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/it-is-strange-and-perhaps-sad-that-medical-doctors-came-up-with-this/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [It is enough for me to hear someone talk sincerely about ideals, about the future, about philosophy, to hear him say “we" with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-enough-for-me-to-hear-someone-talk-sincerely-about-ideals-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What, man, defy the devil. Consider, he's an enemy to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-man-defy-the-devil-consider-he-s-an-enemy-to-mankind/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The Brother's eyes narrowed. "But here's something to keep in mind. You ever hurt him on purpose and I will consider you my enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/the-brother-s-eyes-narrowed-but-here-s-something-to-keep-in-mind-you/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Consider an enemy may become a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/consider-an-enemy-may-become-a-friend/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [A cowboy never takes unfair advantage - even of an enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-autry/a-cowboy-never-takes-unfair-advantage-even-of-an-enemy/) [Gene Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-autry/) > [“There is no avoiding war, it can only be postponed to the advantage of your enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-no-avoiding-war-it-can-only-be-postponed-to-the-advantage-of/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/rapidity-is-the-essence-of-war-take-advantage-of-the-enemy-s/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [In marriage, as in war, it is permitted to take every advantage of the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-marriage-as-in-war-it-is-permitted-to-take-every-advantage-of-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [As an artist, we have a big influence, and we should always think if we are doing more harm than good to our viewers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-martin/as-an-artist-we-have-a-big-influence-and-we-should-always-think-if-we/) [Coco Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-martin/) ## More by Du Mu > [In general, fire is used to throw enemies into confusion so that you can attack them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-mu/in-general-fire-is-used-to-throw-enemies-into-confusion-so-that-you/) [Du Mu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-mu/) > [If the enemy is the invading party, we can cut his line of communications and occupy the roads by which he will have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-mu/if-the-enemy-is-the-invading-party-we-can-cut-his-line-of/) [Du Mu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-mu/) > [If you wish to feign confusion in order to lure the enemy on, you must first have perfect discipline; if you wish to display…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-mu/if-you-wish-to-feign-confusion-in-order-to-lure-the-enemy-on-you-must/) [Du Mu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-mu/) > [Humaneness and justice are the means by which to govern properly. When government is carried out properly, people feel close to the leadership and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-mu/humaneness-and-justice-are-the-means-by-which-to-govern-properly-when/) [Du Mu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-mu/) > [Roll rocks down a ten-thousand-foot mountain, and they cannot be stopped - this is because of the mountain, not the rocks. Get people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-mu/roll-rocks-down-a-ten-thousand-foot-mountain-and-they-cannot-be/) [Du Mu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-mu/) > [Too much emotion is like none at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-mu/too-much-emotion-is-like-none-at-all/) [Du Mu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-mu/) [Explore all 7 Du Mu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-mu/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, I must not fix my mind on that alone, but allow for the possibility of the enemy also doing some harm to me... 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