--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We fight to great disadvantage when we…" description: "\"We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.\" — Francesco Guicciardini" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/francesco-guicciardini-20043_battle_we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-f_100280.png" --- # We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those… ![“We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.” quote by Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/francesco-guicciardini-20043_battle_we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-f_100280.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/francesco-guicciardini-20043_battle_we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-f_100280.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/francesco-guicciardini-20043_battle_we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-f_100280.png) > “We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.” [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When opponents have nothing at stake, they become reckless, making conflict especially costly for those who do have something to lose. **In simple terms:** Fighting the desperate is dangerous for the cautious. Key Takeaway Desperation amplifies risk in conflict. Themes conflict risk psychology power dynamics Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - Negotiations with a party facing bankruptcy - Legal battles against a plaintiff with no assets - Military engagements with an extremist group Key Concepts asymmetrical stakes strategic vulnerability Practical Applications - Assess opponent motivations before engaging - Mitigate exposure by limiting commitments Questions to Reflect On - How can you protect your interests when the other side seems to have nothing to lose? - When might it be strategic to avoid conflict altogether? A Different Perspective If the desperate party also lacks resources, they may be less capable of inflicting damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Nothing to lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing-to-lose/) ## Related quotes > [“We fight to great disadvantage when we fight With those who have nothing to lose. —Guicciardini, Storia d’Italia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-g-laufenberg/we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-fight-with-those-who-have-2/) Keith G. Laufenberg > [The great disadvantage of being in a rat race is that it is humiliating. The competitors in a rat race are by definition rodents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/the-great-disadvantage-of-being-in-a-rat-race-is-that-it-is/) [Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/) > [A great estate is a great disadvantage to those who do not know how to use it, for nothing is more common than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-great-estate-is-a-great-disadvantage-to-those-who-do-not-know-how/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Always leave a way out, unless you really want to find out how hard a man can fight when he’s nothing to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/always-leave-a-way-out-unless-you-really-want-to-find-out-how-hard-a/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“I was an only child. It's a great disadvantage being an only child.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/i-was-an-only-child-it-s-a-great-disadvantage-being-an-only-child/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [If the playing field is not level, if there's sign stealing going on and we're not participating ourselves, that really puts you at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/if-the-playing-field-is-not-level-if-there-s-sign-stealing-going-on/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [The great disadvantage of our present electoral system is that it freezes the pattern of politics, and holds together the incompatible because everyone assumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-jenkins/the-great-disadvantage-of-our-present-electoral-system-is-that-it/) [Roy Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-jenkins/) > [The great disadvantage of getting older is to be obliged to relive the salient economic events of one's youth, with nothing learned and nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buchan/the-great-disadvantage-of-getting-older-is-to-be-obliged-to-relive/) [James Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buchan/) > [Although spoken English doesn't obey the rules of written language, a person who doesn't know the rules thoroughly is at a great disadvantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/although-spoken-english-doesn-t-obey-the-rules-of-written-language-a/) [Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/) > [Though the object of being a Great Power is to be able to fight a Great War, the only way of remaining a Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/though-the-object-of-being-a-great-power-is-to-be-able-to-fight-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In films, people sometimes forget and concentrate on the fight itself, which is great, but the 15 minutes that come beforehand are equally as breathtaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-ansah/in-films-people-sometimes-forget-and-concentrate-on-the-fight-itself/) [Joey Ansah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-ansah/) > [I've been saying the Occupy Movement has got the ball rolling, and now we need to take the fight to the great indoors!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-ve-been-saying-the-occupy-movement-has-got-the-ball-rolling-and-now/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [A man must have a battle to fight, a great mission to his life that involves and yet transcends even home and family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/a-man-must-have-a-battle-to-fight-a-great-mission-to-his-life-that/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“You have to fight great battles to guard your mind, extraordinary battles to protect your heart, and remarkable battles to defend your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-have-to-fight-great-battles-to-guard-your-mind-extraordinary/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I watched that fight between my brother and Henderson a number of times. It was a very competitive fight. My brother is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-rua/i-watched-that-fight-between-my-brother-and-henderson-a-number-of/) [Mauricio Rua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-rua/) ## More by Francesco Guicciardini > [Be careful how you do one man a pleasure which must needs occasion equal displeasure in another. For he who is thus slighted will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/be-careful-how-you-do-one-man-a-pleasure-which-must-needs-occasion/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [How much luckier than all the rest of mankind are the astrologers who, if they tell one truth among a hundred lies, obtain so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/how-much-luckier-than-all-the-rest-of-mankind-are-the-astrologers-who/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [Affairs that depend on many rarely succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/affairs-that-depend-on-many-rarely-succeed/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [Ambassadors are the eye and ear of states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/ambassadors-are-the-eye-and-ear-of-states/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [To relinquish a present good through apprehension of a future evil is in most instances unwise ... from a fear which may afterwards turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/to-relinquish-a-present-good-through-apprehension-of-a-future-evil-is/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [Even though many people prove to be ungrateful, do not let that stop you from benefiting others-for not only is beneficence in itself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/even-though-many-people-prove-to-be-ungrateful-do-not-let-that-stop/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [The affairs of this world are so shifting and depend on so many accidents, that it is hard to form any judgment concerning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/the-affairs-of-this-world-are-so-shifting-and-depend-on-so-many/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [Experience has always shown, and reason also, that affairs which depend on many seldom succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/experience-has-always-shown-and-reason-also-that-affairs-which-depend/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [There is no evil in human affairs that has not some good mingled with it. \[It., Non e male alcuno nelle cose umane che…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/there-is-no-evil-in-human-affairs-that-has-not-some-good-mingled-with/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [To give vent now and then to his feelings, whether of pleasure or discontent, is a great ease to a man's heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/to-give-vent-now-and-then-to-his-feelings-whether-of-pleasure-or/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [There is nothing so fleeting as the memory of benefits received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/there-is-nothing-so-fleeting-as-the-memory-of-benefits-received/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [I know no man who feels deeper disgust than I do at the ambition, avarice, and profligacy of the priesthood, as well because every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/i-know-no-man-who-feels-deeper-disgust-than-i-do-at-the-ambition/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [ Keep your eye fixed not so much on what they \[people\] ought in reason to do, as on what they are likely to do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/keep-your-eye-fixed-not-so-much-on-what-they-people-ought-in-reason/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/the-return-we-reap-from-generous-actions-is-not-always-evident/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [He who imitates what is evil always goes beyond the example that is set; on the contrary, he who imitates what is good always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/he-who-imitates-what-is-evil-always-goes-beyond-the-example-that-is/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) [Explore all 30 Francesco Guicciardini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) ## 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. 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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": "We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francesco Guicciardini" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-fight-with-those-who-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-fight-with-those-who-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/francesco-guicciardini-20043_battle_we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-f_100280.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/francesco-guicciardini-20043_battle_we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-f_100280.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/francesco-guicciardini-20043_battle_we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-f_100280.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.” — Francesco Guicciardini", "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": "Francesco Guicciardini", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We fight to great disadvantage when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-fight-with-those-who-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-fight-with-those-who-have/#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 } } ] } ```