--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A military man can scarcely pride himself…" description: "\"A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rath..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/isoroku-yamamoto-16955_appraisal_a-military-man-can-scarcely-pride-himsel_1251690.jpg" --- # A military man can scarcely pride himself on having… ![“A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rather you made your appraisal after seeing what the enemy does, since it is certain that, angered and outraged, he will soon launch a determined…” quote by Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/isoroku-yamamoto-16955_appraisal_a-military-man-can-scarcely-pride-himsel_1251690.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/isoroku-yamamoto-16955_appraisal_a-military-man-can-scarcely-pride-himsel_1251690.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/isoroku-yamamoto-16955_appraisal_a-military-man-can-scarcely-pride-himsel_1251690.jpg) > “A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rather you made your appraisal after seeing what the enemy does, since it is certain that, angered and outraged, he will soon launch a determined counterattack.” [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A commander warns that triumph over a sleeping enemy breeds shame; vigilance and retaliation are inevitable. **In simple terms:** Winning against an unaware foe feels shameful; expect retaliation. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant and anticipate consequences. Themes honor war strategy ethics Mood cautious strategic Type historical military analysis When to use this quote - military planning - conflict resolution - leadership decisions Key Concepts military doctrine psychological warfare enemy assessment Questions to Reflect On - How do you prepare for inevitable counterattacks? - What safeguards prevent complacency? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can blind leaders to future threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Counter attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counter-attack/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-man/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) ## Related quotes > [A military man can scarcely pride himself on having smitten a sleeping enemy; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/a-military-man-can-scarcely-pride-himself-on-having-smitten-a/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [“When you go out the door, be as if you were seeing an enemy.” And Shi Li said, “Be prepared, and you will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-you-go-out-the-door-be-as-if-you-were-seeing-an-enemy-and-shi-li/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Do not underestimate the power of an enemy, no matter how great or small, to rise against you another day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/attila-the-hun/do-not-underestimate-the-power-of-an-enemy-no-matter-how-great-or/) [Attila the Hun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/attila-the-hun/) > [It may sound trite, but using the weapons of the enemy, no matter how good one's intentions, makes one the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/it-may-sound-trite-but-using-the-weapons-of-the-enemy-no-matter-how/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [“We seem to face an enemy who, no matter how many times we win, will best us in the end. He has so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/we-seem-to-face-an-enemy-who-no-matter-how-many-times-we-win-will/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“perhaps pain’s the enemy no matter which side you’re on,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tchaikovsky/perhaps-pain-s-the-enemy-no-matter-which-side-you-re-on/) [Adrian Tchaikovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tchaikovsky/) > [“And I have faith that you'll make a wonderful head of the Council someday, Sophie." Yeah, except for that whole sleeping with the enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/and-i-have-faith-that-you-ll-make-a-wonderful-head-of-the-council/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [The battle of the sexes will never be won as long as we keep sleeping with the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/the-battle-of-the-sexes-will-never-be-won-as-long-as-we-keep-sleeping/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [Sleeping with the enemy, so I fuck the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/sleeping-with-the-enemy-so-i-fuck-the-world/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [A writer of books has to admit that film is the enemy, and that in my case I have been sleeping with the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow/a-writer-of-books-has-to-admit-that-film-is-the-enemy-and-that-in-my/) [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) > [A counter-attack can only arise when you make a mistake. That's why there are rules. A horizontal pass? Prohibited. In my line-up there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/a-counter-attack-can-only-arise-when-you-make-a-mistake-that-s-why/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [More than stopping the counter-attack when it happens you want to prevent it from starting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-busquets/more-than-stopping-the-counter-attack-when-it-happens-you-want-to/) [Sergio Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-busquets/) > [The accent in the counter attack style of play lays on the defensive team function, with the emphasis being on the defender's own half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rinus-michels/the-accent-in-the-counter-attack-style-of-play-lays-on-the-defensive/) [Rinus Michels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rinus-michels/) > [Allan is good in transition, going box to box, leading counter attacks and breaks. He's mobile and brings protection defensively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite/allan-is-good-in-transition-going-box-to-box-leading-counter-attacks/) [Tite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite/) > [The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/the-best-way-to-counter-attack-a-hater-is-to-make-it-blatantly/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) ## More by Isoroku Yamamoto > [Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/should-hostilities-once-break-out-between-japan-and-the-united-states/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/you-cannot-invade-the-mainland-united-states-there-would-be-a-rifle/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [I sincerely desire to be appointed Commander in Chief of the air fleet to attack Pearl Harbor so that I may personally command that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/i-sincerely-desire-to-be-appointed-commander-in-chief-of-the-air/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [The fate of the Empire rests on this enterprise. Every man must devote himself totally to the task in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/the-fate-of-the-empire-rests-on-this-enterprise-every-man-must-devote/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [Even though there wasn't much damage, it's a disgrace that the skies over the imperial capital should have been defiled without a single enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/even-though-there-wasn-t-much-damage-it-s-a-disgrace-that-the-skies/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [Japan has always regarded the aircraft carrier as one of the most offensive of armaments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/japan-has-always-regarded-the-aircraft-carrier-as-one-of-the-most/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [I entered the navy with the great ambition of becoming a naval soldier and going to war. Either I die from this festering wound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/i-entered-the-navy-with-the-great-ambition-of-becoming-a-naval/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [A military man can scarcely pride himself on having smitten a sleeping enemy; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/a-military-man-can-scarcely-pride-himself-on-having-smitten-a/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/in-the-first-six-to-twelve-months-of-a-war-with-the-united-states-and/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [Although a precise outlook on the international situation is hard for anyone to make, it is needless to say that now the time has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/although-a-precise-outlook-on-the-international-situation-is-hard-for/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [You cannot invade mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/you-cannot-invade-mainland-united-states-there-would-be-a-rifle/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [I was once the captain of Akagi, and it is with heartfelt regret that I must now order that she be sunk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/i-was-once-the-captain-of-akagi-and-it-is-with-heartfelt-regret-that/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [Today, as chief Of the guardians of the seas Of the land of the dawn, I gaze up with awe At the rising sun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/today-as-chief-of-the-guardians-of-the-seas-of-the-land-of-the-dawn-i/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [A man of real purpose puts his faith in himself always. Sometimes he refuses even to put his faith in the gods. So from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/a-man-of-real-purpose-puts-his-faith-in-himself-always-sometimes-he/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [I'm against war with the United States. But I am an officer of the Imperial Navy and a subject of His Majesty the Emperor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/i-m-against-war-with-the-united-states-but-i-am-an-officer-of-the/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) [Explore all 38 Isoroku Yamamoto quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) ## More Appraisal quotes > [Let your desire for truth transcend all minor considerations. Ignorance is invariably confident. The man of knowledge learns to realize his own needs. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grenville-kleiser/let-your-desire-for-truth-transcend-all-minor-considerations/) [Grenville Kleiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grenville-kleiser/) > [When one cannot appraise out of one's own experience, the temptation to blunder is minimized, but even when one can, appraisal seems chiefly useful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/when-one-cannot-appraise-out-of-one-s-own-experience-the-temptation/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Agemates provide the most informative points of reference for comparative efficacy appraisal and verification. Children are, therefore, especially sensitive to their relative standing among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/agemates-provide-the-most-informative-points-of-reference-for/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [Reasonably accurate appraisal of one's own capabilities is, therefore, of considerable value in successful functioning. Large misjudgments of personal efficacy in either direction have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/reasonably-accurate-appraisal-of-one-s-own-capabilities-is-therefore/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [I don't want to give a cool appraisal of Jeremy Irons. I just want to boil him in oil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-barber/i-don-t-want-to-give-a-cool-appraisal-of-jeremy-irons-i-just-want-to/) [Lynn Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-barber/) > [Managers don't like giving appraisals, and employees don't like getting them. Perhaps they're not liked because both parties suspect what the evidence has proved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/managers-don-t-like-giving-appraisals-and-employees-don-t-like/) [W. 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I'm very worried about what happens when we hand over our destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-falcon-scott/i-have-huge-questions-about-vision-appraisal-you-bet-i-do-i-m-very/) [Robert Falcon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-falcon-scott/) > [In the biggest companies, seek out the most useless positions: those in consultancy, appraisal, research, and study. The more useless your position, the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-maier/in-the-biggest-companies-seek-out-the-most-useless-positions-those-in/) [Corinne Maier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-maier/) > [We must do what we can to reduce, not increase, tensions. We must do what we can to present only the facts as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-spender/we-must-do-what-we-can-to-reduce-not-increase-tensions-we-must-do/) Percy Spender > [Possibly the biggest issue, however, is that performance appraisals focus managers attention on precisely the wrong thing: individual people. 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