--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is easy to crush an enemy outside…" description: "\"It is easy to crush an enemy outside oneself but impossible to defeat an enemy within.\" — Eiji Yoshikawa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/eiji-yoshikawa-7381_crush_it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-one_1167301.jpg" --- # It is easy to crush an enemy outside oneself but… ![“It is easy to crush an enemy outside oneself but impossible to defeat an enemy within.” quote by Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/eiji-yoshikawa-7381_crush_it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-one_1167301.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/eiji-yoshikawa-7381_crush_it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-one_1167301.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/eiji-yoshikawa-7381_crush_it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-one_1167301.jpg) > “It is easy to crush an enemy outside oneself but impossible to defeat an enemy within.” [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. External battles are easier to win than the internal struggles we face within ourselves. **In simple terms:** Winning outside is easy; winning inside is hard. Key Takeaway Focus on inner growth. Themes self‑discipline conflict inner strength Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - mental health - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology philosophy warfare Questions to Reflect On - What inner enemy do you need to confront? - How can you strengthen inner resilience? A Different Perspective External victories may not address deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crush/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy within](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-within/) ## Related quotes > [The biggest enemy we have to deal with is ourselves...If there is no enemy within the enemy outside can do you NO harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/the-biggest-enemy-we-have-to-deal-with-is-ourselves-if-there-is-no/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [If there is no enemy within the enemy outside can do us no harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/if-there-is-no-enemy-within-the-enemy-outside-can-do-us-no-harm/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/it-is-difficult-to-find-happiness-within-oneself-but-it-is-impossible/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [When I say 'Crush your enemy', I don't literally mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/when-i-say-crush-your-enemy-i-don-t-literally-mean-it/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Law 15: Crush your enemy totally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-48-laws-of-power/law-15-crush-your-enemy-totally/) [The 48 Laws Of Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-48-laws-of-power/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim-2/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [It is impossible to defeat an ignorant person in an argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-impossible-to-defeat-an-ignorant-person-in-an-argument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-impossible-to-defeat-an-ignorant-man-in-argument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-impossible-to-defeat-an-ignorant-man-in-an-argument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no enemy outside your SOUL,the real enemy live inside you.They're anger,greed,pride,attachment and hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-enemy-outside-your-soul-the-real-enemy-live-inside-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There Is No Enemy Outside Your Soul.. It's Only An Image Of What You Give To Them To Think About You. The Real Enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/there-is-no-enemy-outside-your-soul-it-s-only-an-image-of-what-you/) Pacifiersucker > [''If you want something work hard for it and no matter what don't give up I used to be like that.'' ''Now I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/if-you-want-something-work-hard-for-it-and-no-matter-what-don-t-give/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Death is the enemy. I spent 10 years of my life singlemindedly studying, practicing, fighting hand to hand in close quarters to defeat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-frolov/death-is-the-enemy-i-spent-10-years-of-my-life-singlemindedly/) [Diane Frolov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-frolov/) > [We are going to have to be there until we defeat this enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-drake/we-are-going-to-have-to-be-there-until-we-defeat-this-enemy/) [Thelma Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-drake/) > [Another way that you love your enemy is this: When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/another-way-that-you-love-your-enemy-is-this-when-the-opportunity/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by Eiji Yoshikawa > [“How was Gengo to know, Saigyo reflected, that this unheroic existence imposed even greater torment than the icy lashings of the Nachi Falls in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/how-was-gengo-to-know-saigyo-reflected-that-this-unheroic-existence/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [The world is a stone wall ... and they have put the stones so close together that there is not a single crack through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/the-world-is-a-stone-wall-and-they-have-put-the-stones-so-close/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“He used to say that a true rōnin did not seek fame or profit, did not curry favor with the powerful, did not attempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/he-used-to-say-that-a-true-r-nin-did-not-seek-fame-or-profit-did-not/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“A wanderer with no ideal, no sense of gratitude for his independence, is no more than a beggar! The difference between a beggar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/a-wanderer-with-no-ideal-no-sense-of-gratitude-for-his-independence/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“Lord Karasumaru considered it a grave mistake on the part of the gods to have made a man like himself a nobleman. And, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/lord-karasumaru-considered-it-a-grave-mistake-on-the-part-of-the-gods/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“I can only bow to the will of the heaven, but not to the will of these men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/i-can-only-bow-to-the-will-of-the-heaven-but-not-to-the-will-of-these/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“People were born with two hands; why not use both of them? As it was, swordsmen fought with only one sword, and often one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/people-were-born-with-two-hands-why-not-use-both-of-them-as-it-was/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“If the talents I was born with are the right ones, I may someday achieve my goal. If not, I may go through life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/if-the-talents-i-was-born-with-are-the-right-ones-i-may-someday/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“kalau agama itu ajaran sehat, kita tak akan membutuhkan nabi-nabi untuk menyampaikannya kepada kita. -Takuan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/kalau-agama-itu-ajaran-sehat-kita-tak-akan-membutuhkan-nabi-nabi/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“Fighting isn’t all there is to the Art of War. The men who think that way, and are satisfied to have food to eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/fighting-isn-t-all-there-is-to-the-art-of-war-the-men-who-think-that/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [The line between life and death is not thicker than an eyelid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/the-line-between-life-and-death-is-not-thicker-than-an-eyelid/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“How to make his mother, whom he imagined to be the unhappiest person in the world, the happiest, was what drove him on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/how-to-make-his-mother-whom-he-imagined-to-be-the-unhappiest-person/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“Whether people were great or not, there was not much variety in their inner life experience. Any difference lay merely in how they dealt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/whether-people-were-great-or-not-there-was-not-much-variety-in-their/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [I wouldn't say Musashi is ordinary. But he is. That's what's extraordinary about him. He is not content to rely on whatever natural gifts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/i-wouldn-t-say-musashi-is-ordinary-but-he-is-that-s-what-s/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“Musashi wondered how many people there were who on this night could say: “I was right. I did what I should have done. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/musashi-wondered-how-many-people-there-were-who-on-this-night-could/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) [Explore all 80 Eiji Yoshikawa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) ## More Crush quotes > [Mortals are such fragile things. Just tender feelings walking around exposed in their delicate shells...Easy to crush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/mortals-are-such-fragile-things-just-tender-feelings-walking-around/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [Each child’s story is worthy of telling. There shouldn’t be a sliding scale of death. The weight of it is crushing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/each-child-s-story-is-worthy-of-telling-there-shouldn-t-be-a-sliding/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [I wish that I coul be her. but in the mean time dont forget about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzie-ann/i-wish-that-i-coul-be-her-but-in-the-mean-time-dont-forget-about-me/) [Kenzie-ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzie-ann/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I already know that u know that I like u, the question is Wat r u going to do with that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-already-know-that-u-know-that-i-like-u-the-question-is-wat-r-u/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“My mom believed that you make your own luck. Over the stove she had hung these old, maroon painted letters that spell out, “MANIFEST.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-laybourne/my-mom-believed-that-you-make-your-own-luck-over-the-stove-she-had/) [Emmy Laybourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-laybourne/) > [I'm very disturbed to find out that the leader of the Townies has a soul and I'm beginning to develop a bit of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-m-very-disturbed-to-find-out-that-the-leader-of-the-townies-has-a/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“Connor Crane was currently the secret crush of half the female HHH population. And a couple of the males, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-halliday/connor-crane-was-currently-the-secret-crush-of-half-the-female-hhh/) [Gemma Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-halliday/) > [My dream would be to hear rocks at my window n to look out and see u just standing there, in the pouring rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blondie/my-dream-would-be-to-hear-rocks-at-my-window-n-to-look-out-and-see-u/) [Blondie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blondie/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [He sank into the rocking chair, the same one in which Rebecca had sat during the early days of the house to give embroidery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/he-sank-into-the-rocking-chair-the-same-one-in-which-rebecca-had-sat/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [...It's an unmeetable level of writing. But even if it's something I feel like I can't ever attain, it doesn't crush my spirit. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/it-s-an-unmeetable-level-of-writing-but-even-if-it-s-something-i-feel/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Hold tenderly that which you cherish, for it is precious and a tight grip may crush it. Do not let the fear of dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-alberti/hold-tenderly-that-which-you-cherish-for-it-is-precious-and-a-tight/) Bob Alberti > [In love, making your crush jealous is not going to help it would just make it more complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-valdez/in-love-making-your-crush-jealous-is-not-going-to-help-it-would-just/) [Sarah Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-valdez/) [Browse all 2,147 Crush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crush/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is easy to crush an enemy outside oneself but impossible to defeat an enemy within.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eiji Yoshikawa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-oneself-but-impossible-to-defeat/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crush" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-oneself-but-impossible-to-defeat/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/eiji-yoshikawa-7381_crush_it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-one_1167301.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/eiji-yoshikawa-7381_crush_it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-one_1167301.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/eiji-yoshikawa-7381_crush_it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-one_1167301.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is easy to crush an enemy outside oneself but impossible to defeat an enemy within.” — Eiji Yoshikawa", "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": "Eiji Yoshikawa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is easy to crush an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-oneself-but-impossible-to-defeat/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/it-is-easy-to-crush-an-enemy-outside-oneself-but-impossible-to-defeat/#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 } } ] } ```