--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you go into a battle, it's better to…" description: "\"If you go into a battle, it's better to win the first time.\" — George S. Patton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/george-s-patton-1770_battle_if-you-go-into-a-battle-it-s-better-to-w_2294520.jpg" --- # If you go into a battle, it's better to win the first time. ![“If you go into a battle, it's better to win the first time.” quote by George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/george-s-patton-1770_battle_if-you-go-into-a-battle-it-s-better-to-w_2294520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/george-s-patton-1770_battle_if-you-go-into-a-battle-it-s-better-to-w_2294520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13c/george-s-patton-1770_battle_if-you-go-into-a-battle-it-s-better-to-w_2294520.jpg) > “If you go into a battle, it's better to win the first time.” [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Winning the first engagement in conflict greatly improves overall chances of success. **In simple terms:** First victory in battle boosts overall success. Key Takeaway Secure early wins to shape outcomes. Themes strategy leadership confidence Mood strategic assertive Type military motivational When to use this quote - project launches - negotiations - sports competitions - team building Key Concepts military tactics momentum building Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure early wins are sustainable? - What risks arise from focusing only on first victories? A Different Perspective Early success can create overconfidence and complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battle Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-better-3024466/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-win-312415/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Win Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-time/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [You don't get better if you win all the time. You look at yourself more when you lose,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/you-don-t-get-better-if-you-win-all-the-time-you-look-at-yourself/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I've always thought of myself as being a warrior. When you actually have a battle, it's better than when you don't know who to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-simon/i-ve-always-thought-of-myself-as-being-a-warrior-when-you-actually/) [Carly Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-simon/) > [Yall know who are want to battle better call an end to all this shit shit you legit spit a bar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-kim-2/yall-know-who-are-want-to-battle-better-call-an-end-to-all-this-shit/) [Lil Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-kim-2/) > [“Once a Loser never means you cannot muster the courage to be a Winner again,Win is just a manifestation of your bitter experiences for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-sundarraman/once-a-loser-never-means-you-cannot-muster-the-courage-to-be-a-winner/) [Abhishek Sundarraman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-sundarraman/) > [It is better to win ten times 1-0 than to win once 10-0.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vahid-halilhodzic/it-is-better-to-win-ten-times-1-0-than-to-win-once-10-0/) [Vahid Halilhodzic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vahid-halilhodzic/) > [It is better to win the peace and to lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/it-is-better-to-win-the-peace-and-to-lose-the-war/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [Damn sure better win. That's all I can say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coker/damn-sure-better-win-that-s-all-i-can-say/) [Larry Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coker/) > [If I was going to start over, then I wanted to go somewhere I could get better and win and see if I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-hood/if-i-was-going-to-start-over-then-i-wanted-to-go-somewhere-i-could/) [Rodney Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-hood/) > [It's better to win the hard way sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-foden/it-s-better-to-win-the-hard-way-sometimes/) [Phil Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-foden/) > [Never Change your Originality For the Sake Of Others Becoz In this World No One Can Play your Better Than you. So Be yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/never-change-your-originality-for-the-sake-of-others-becoz-in-this/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Everyone who has ever aspired to be a stock car driver wants to win the Daytona 500. If someone says that it's better to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/everyone-who-has-ever-aspired-to-be-a-stock-car-driver-wants-to-win/) [Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/) > [I somehow instinctively knew it would be much better to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-lucci/i-somehow-instinctively-knew-it-would-be-much-better-to-win/) [Susan Lucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-lucci/) > [“It is better to win souls than to conquer nations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-better-to-win-souls-than-to-conquer-nations/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [It's nice to have a record, but it's even better to have a win. But it's team before self every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-garrett/it-s-nice-to-have-a-record-but-it-s-even-better-to-have-a-win-but-it/) [Myles Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-garrett/) > [We deserve better than a win-at-all-costs mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/we-deserve-better-than-a-win-at-all-costs-mentality/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) ## More by George S. Patton > [Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/wars-may-be-fought-with-weapons-but-they-are-won-by-men-it-is-the/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/america-loves-a-winner-and-will-not-tolerate-a-loser-this-is-why/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [We must guard against becoming so engrossed in the specific nature of the roots and bark of the trees of knowledge as to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/we-must-guard-against-becoming-so-engrossed-in-the-specific-nature-of/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Successful generals make plans to fit circumstances, but do not try to create circumstances to fit plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/successful-generals-make-plans-to-fit-circumstances-but-do-not-try-to/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to never listen to any fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/there-is-a-time-to-take-counsel-of-your-fears-and-there-is-a-time-to/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/watch-what-people-are-cynical-about-and-one-can-often-discover-what/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [In the space of two days I had evolved two plans, wholly distinct, both of which were equally feasible. The point I am trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/in-the-space-of-two-days-i-had-evolved-two-plans-wholly-distinct-both/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [The leader must be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-leader-must-be-an-actor/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Most battles are won before they are ever fought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/most-battles-are-won-before-they-are-ever-fought/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/discipline-must-be-a-habit-so-ingrained-that-it-is-stronger-than-the/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Battle... brings out all that is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/battle-brings-out-all-that-is-best/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/sure-we-want-to-go-home-we-want-this-war-over-with-the-quickest-way/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That's the time to listen to every fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/the-time-to-take-counsel-of-your-fears-is-before-you-make-an/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [A man must know his destiny. if he does not recognize it, then he is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/a-man-must-know-his-destiny-if-he-does-not-recognize-it-then-he-is/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/urge-all-of-your-men-to-pray-not-alone-in-church-but-everywhere-pray/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) [Explore all 208 George S. Patton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. 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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": "If you go into a battle, it's better to win the first time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George S. 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