---
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.\" — Isoroku Yam..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/isoroku-yamamoto-16955_enemy_a-military-man-can-scarcely-pride-himsel_1029959.png"
---

#  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.” quote by Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/isoroku-yamamoto-16955_enemy_a-military-man-can-scarcely-pride-himsel_1029959.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/isoroku-yamamoto-16955_enemy_a-military-man-can-scarcely-pride-himsel_1029959.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/isoroku-yamamoto-16955_enemy_a-military-man-can-scarcely-pride-himsel_1029959.png)

> “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.”

[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 victory over an unsuspecting foe feels dishonorable, reflecting on the ethics of combat.

**In simple terms:** Winning against a sleeping enemy feels shameful.

Key Takeaway

Avoid exploiting the vulnerable.

Themes

honor war ethics

Mood

reflective serious

Type

ethical military

When to use this quote

- combat decisions
- rules of engagement
- military training

Key Concepts

military morality fair play

Questions to Reflect On

- Is it ever justified to strike an unprepared opponent?
- How does this view affect modern warfare ethics?

A Different Perspective

The concept of honor varies across cultures and eras.

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[Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-man/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/)

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