--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you must use your hands, use them with…" description: "\"If you must use your hands, use them with all the strength you possess... If you choose to strike, by all means strike hard.\" — Jeff Cooper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/jeff-cooper-3700_hands_if-you-must-use-your-hands-use-them-with_1603951.jpg" --- # If you must use your hands, use them with all the strength… ![“If you must use your hands, use them with all the strength you possess... If you choose to strike, by all means strike hard.” quote by Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/jeff-cooper-3700_hands_if-you-must-use-your-hands-use-them-with_1603951.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/jeff-cooper-3700_hands_if-you-must-use-your-hands-use-them-with_1603951.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/jeff-cooper-3700_hands_if-you-must-use-your-hands-use-them-with_1603951.jpg) > “If you must use your hands, use them with all the strength you possess... If you choose to strike, by all means strike hard.” [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When using your hands, apply full strength; if striking, strike decisively. **In simple terms:** Use full strength; act decisively. Key Takeaway Commit fully to action. Themes strength decisiveness hand-to-hand combat confidence Mood assertive cautious Type practical philosophical When to use this quote - self‑defense training - sports - conflict resolution - emergency response Key Concepts self‑defense military tactics Questions to Reflect On - When is full strength necessary? - How do you balance force with restraint? A Different Perspective Forceful action can cause unintended harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Self defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-defense/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [You choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-choose/) ## Related quotes > [“To which hand do I choose to strike with when both hands are guided by the same heart?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-bryant/to-which-hand-do-i-choose-to-strike-with-when-both-hands-are-guided/) [Carroll Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-bryant/) > [It strike me so hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-laurence-torcuator/it-strike-me-so-hard/) [Mark Laurence Torcuator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-laurence-torcuator/) > [Strike hard and fast and do not separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-guderian/strike-hard-and-fast-and-do-not-separate/) [Heinz Guderian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-guderian/) > [Hit them in their personal lives, visit their homes . Actively target U.S. military establishments within the United States... strike hard and fast and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-rosebraugh/hit-them-in-their-personal-lives-visit-their-homes-actively-target-u/) Craig Rosebraugh > [Strike as much and as hard as you please, only don't do it in the dark so that I cannot know who is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-woodhull/strike-as-much-and-as-hard-as-you-please-only-don-t-do-it-in-the-dark/) [Victoria Woodhull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-woodhull/) > [I too am not powerless, and my weapons strike hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/i-too-am-not-powerless-and-my-weapons-strike-hard/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-art-of-war-is-simple-enough-find-out-where-your-enemy-is-get-at/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“Strike hard and true, crow, or I'll come back and haunt you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/strike-hard-and-true-crow-or-i-ll-come-back-and-haunt-you/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Strike fast, strike hard, strike often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-halsey/strike-fast-strike-hard-strike-often/) [William Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-halsey/) > [“Don't say you won't strike now. "Not now" is what brings forth "never done". Strike it early, strike it now... 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They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [It appears that the murder rate inside prisons is ten times higher than that outside prisons. It must be due to all those Kalashnikov…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-appears-that-the-murder-rate-inside-prisons-is-ten-times-higher/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Don't try to be fancy. Shoot for the center of mass. The world is full of decent people. Criminals we can do without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/don-t-try-to-be-fancy-shoot-for-the-center-of-mass-the-world-is-full/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Therefore, if you are attacked, retaliate instantly. Be sudden. Be quick. Speed is your salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/therefore-if-you-are-attacked-retaliate-instantly-be-sudden-be-quick/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Political correctness is neither political nor is it correct. It amounts to social censorship, and the sooner we spit it out, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/political-correctness-is-neither-political-nor-is-it-correct-it/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-rifle-itself-has-no-moral-stature-since-it-has-no-will-of-its-own/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [If violent crime is to be curbed, it is only the intended victim who can do it. 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I see no reason to change that view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-has-long-been-my-conviction-that-a-masked-man-with-a-gun-is-a/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [A fine marksman is with a second rate rifle is far more effective than the reverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/a-fine-marksman-is-with-a-second-rate-rifle-is-far-more-effective/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [You better be looking for another pitcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/you-better-be-looking-for-another-pitcher/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [It is true that a victim who fights back may suffer for it, but one who does not almost certainly will suffer for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-is-true-that-a-victim-who-fights-back-may-suffer-for-it-but-one/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [If a felon attacks you and lives, he will reasonably conclude that he can do it again. By submitting to him, you not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/if-a-felon-attacks-you-and-lives-he-will-reasonably-conclude-that-he/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/an-unarmed-man-can-only-flee-from-evil-and-evil-is-not-overcome-by/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) [Explore all 124 Jeff Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) ## More Hands quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. 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Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. 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