---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never show your weakness before adversary."
description: "\"“Never show your weakness before adversary.”\" — Euginia Herlihy"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/euginia-herlihy-998_adversary_never-show-your-weakness-before-adversar_2678719.jpg"
---

#  Never show your weakness before adversary.

![“Never show your weakness before adversary.” quote by Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/euginia-herlihy-998_adversary_never-show-your-weakness-before-adversar_2678719.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/euginia-herlihy-998_adversary_never-show-your-weakness-before-adversar_2678719.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/euginia-herlihy-998_adversary_never-show-your-weakness-before-adversar_2678719.jpg)

> ““Never show your weakness before adversary.””

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Showing strength to opponents prevents them from exploiting perceived vulnerabilities.

**In simple terms:** Don’t reveal weakness to foes.

Key Takeaway

Maintain composure and confidence in conflict.

Themes

confidence strategy resilience

Mood

cautious strategic

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- negotiations
- competitive sports
- leadership

Key Concepts

military tactics psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- When is vulnerability a strategic asset?
- How can transparency build trust?

A Different Perspective

Overconfidence can blind you to real threats.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adversary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversary/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weakness Adversary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness-adversary-2563053/) [Wisdom-quote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-quote/)

## Related quotes

> [To be acceptable is for one to ignore his weakness while knowing his strength, to cover the scar even though it's always there, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/to-be-acceptable-is-for-one-to-ignore-his-weakness-while-knowing-his/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [“I learned to ambush the fear and I managed to turn vulnerability to ruthlessness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/i-learned-to-ambush-the-fear-and-i-managed-to-turn-vulnerability-to/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“Whenever i see someone fighting me for no reason, I'm always highly impressed that God has instigated his anger against me, just as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/whenever-i-see-someone-fighting-me-for-no-reason-i-m-always-highly/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“You will never come up against a greater adversary than your own potential.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-trekek-the-next-generation-episode-guide-team/you-will-never-come-up-against-a-greater-adversary-than-your-own/)

[Star trekek The Next Generation Episode Guide Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-trekek-the-next-generation-episode-guide-team/)

> [Only way to eliminate the element of surprise is to know yourself and now your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/only-way-to-eliminate-the-element-of-surprise-is-to-know-yourself-and/)

[Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/)

> [“We have first seized the front line of trenches, then the second and the third, and our adversary, shut up in his retreat, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/we-have-first-seized-the-front-line-of-trenches-then-the-second-and/)

[Corneliu Zelea Codreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/)

> [“I've never viewed you as an enemy, more an adversary...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/i-ve-never-viewed-you-as-an-enemy-more-an-adversary/)

[Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/)

> [Historically, it is important to try to understand your adversary in order to figure out how they are thinking, what they will be doing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/historically-it-is-important-to-try-to-understand-your-adversary-in/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [If you have an adversary, an opponent with an opposing point of view, give that person a platform, regardless of how extreme it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/if-you-have-an-adversary-an-opponent-with-an-opposing-point-of-view/)

[Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/)

> [“price. There is no such thing as pure good or pure evil, least of all in people. In the best of us there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/price-there-is-no-such-thing-as-pure-good-or-pure-evil-least-of-all/)

[Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/)

> [You negotiate in bad faith if you do not forgive your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/you-negotiate-in-bad-faith-if-you-do-not-forgive-your-adversary/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [And these two elements are at odds with one another because Freud is utterly adversary to almost all the ways of structuring the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/and-these-two-elements-are-at-odds-with-one-another-because-freud-is/)

[Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/)

> [My adversary is the world of finance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/my-adversary-is-the-world-of-finance/)

[Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/)

> [Anthony Weiner is a crafty and worthy adversary - an unrepentant lefty who is usually a savvy media player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/anthony-weiner-is-a-crafty-and-worthy-adversary-an-unrepentant-lefty/)

[Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/)

> [“Satan wants you to believe that you don't have a choice in the matter. You can't be happy until things go the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-rietzsch/satan-wants-you-to-believe-that-you-don-t-have-a-choice-in-the-matter/)

[Lindsey Rietzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-rietzsch/)

## More by Euginia Herlihy

> [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“Where is hope there is a life and future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/where-is-hope-there-is-a-life-and-future/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“In life you dream, you step out and you make it happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/in-life-you-dream-you-step-out-and-you-make-it-happen/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“I learned to ambush the fear and I managed to turn vulnerability to ruthlessness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/i-learned-to-ambush-the-fear-and-i-managed-to-turn-vulnerability-to/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“You could feel hurt and rejected right now but you must know that both pain and rejection are not here to stay. They just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/you-could-feel-hurt-and-rejected-right-now-but-you-must-know-that/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“Dream chasers are full of strength, are full of desire, are passionate and they cling unto their dreams until they produce life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/dream-chasers-are-full-of-strength-are-full-of-desire-are-passionate/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“Great Britain be proud, be blessed, be bold! Show the world what are you made of; show them you are made of gold not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/great-britain-be-proud-be-blessed-be-bold-show-the-world-what-are-you/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“Keep dreaming because your dream will be the message that brings change to the others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/keep-dreaming-because-your-dream-will-be-the-message-that-brings/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“I speak blessing upon blessing, grace upon grace over your lives. May the God of Hosts protect you and your entire families through out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/i-speak-blessing-upon-blessing-grace-upon-grace-over-your-lives-may/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“To dream is to have your own world you created in your in your mind but you have to unleash that world to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/to-dream-is-to-have-your-own-world-you-created-in-your-in-your-mind/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“You could seem so weak, so simple-minded in the eyes of man to contain the enormous dream/vision God has given you because no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/you-could-seem-so-weak-so-simple-minded-in-the-eyes-of-man-to-contain/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“Joy brings smiles on our faces, it brings power, peace and sound mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/joy-brings-smiles-on-our-faces-it-brings-power-peace-and-sound-mind/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“Love is a powerful device that builds the broken bridges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/love-is-a-powerful-device-that-builds-the-broken-bridges/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [“The most sad and dangerous people are the ones who are desperate to be like you. The people dress like you, try to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-most-sad-and-dangerous-people-are-the-ones-who-are-desperate-to/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

[Explore all 311 Euginia Herlihy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

## More Adversary quotes

> [“Satan wants you to believe that you don't have a choice in the matter. You can't be happy until things go the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-rietzsch/satan-wants-you-to-believe-that-you-don-t-have-a-choice-in-the-matter/)

[Lindsey Rietzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-rietzsch/)

> [Anthony Weiner is a crafty and worthy adversary - an unrepentant lefty who is usually a savvy media player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/anthony-weiner-is-a-crafty-and-worthy-adversary-an-unrepentant-lefty/)

[Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/)

> [My adversary is the world of finance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/my-adversary-is-the-world-of-finance/)

[Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/)

> [And these two elements are at odds with one another because Freud is utterly adversary to almost all the ways of structuring the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/and-these-two-elements-are-at-odds-with-one-another-because-freud-is/)

[Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/)

> [You negotiate in bad faith if you do not forgive your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/you-negotiate-in-bad-faith-if-you-do-not-forgive-your-adversary/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [“price. There is no such thing as pure good or pure evil, least of all in people. In the best of us there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/price-there-is-no-such-thing-as-pure-good-or-pure-evil-least-of-all/)

[Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/)

> [If you have an adversary, an opponent with an opposing point of view, give that person a platform, regardless of how extreme it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/if-you-have-an-adversary-an-opponent-with-an-opposing-point-of-view/)

[Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/)

> [Historically, it is important to try to understand your adversary in order to figure out how they are thinking, what they will be doing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/historically-it-is-important-to-try-to-understand-your-adversary-in/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [“I've never viewed you as an enemy, more an adversary...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/i-ve-never-viewed-you-as-an-enemy-more-an-adversary/)

[Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/)

> [“We have first seized the front line of trenches, then the second and the third, and our adversary, shut up in his retreat, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/we-have-first-seized-the-front-line-of-trenches-then-the-second-and/)

[Corneliu Zelea Codreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/)

> [Only way to eliminate the element of surprise is to know yourself and now your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/only-way-to-eliminate-the-element-of-surprise-is-to-know-yourself-and/)

[Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/)

> [“You will never come up against a greater adversary than your own potential.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-trekek-the-next-generation-episode-guide-team/you-will-never-come-up-against-a-greater-adversary-than-your-own/)

[Star trekek The Next Generation Episode Guide Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-trekek-the-next-generation-episode-guide-team/)

> [“Whenever i see someone fighting me for no reason, I'm always highly impressed that God has instigated his anger against me, just as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/whenever-i-see-someone-fighting-me-for-no-reason-i-m-always-highly/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [An exhausted man easily falls prey to the adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/an-exhausted-man-easily-falls-prey-to-the-adversary/)

[J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/)

> [It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary; nevertheless it is right to hear it, that you may do the contrary; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/it-is-wrong-to-follow-the-advice-of-an-adversary-nevertheless-it-is/)

[Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/)

[Browse all 142 Adversary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversary/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Never show your weakness before adversary.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Euginia Herlihy"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/never-show-your-weakness-before-adversary/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adversary"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/never-show-your-weakness-before-adversary/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/euginia-herlihy-998_adversary_never-show-your-weakness-before-adversar_2678719.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/euginia-herlihy-998_adversary_never-show-your-weakness-before-adversar_2678719.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/euginia-herlihy-998_adversary_never-show-your-weakness-before-adversar_2678719.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Never show your weakness before adversary.” — Euginia Herlihy",
                "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": "Euginia Herlihy",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Never show your weakness before adversary.”",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/never-show-your-weakness-before-adversary/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/never-show-your-weakness-before-adversary/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
