--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never assume that simply having a gun…" description: "\"Never assume that simply having a gun makes you a marksman. You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol than you are a musician because you ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/jeff-cooper-3700_assuming_never-assume-that-simply-having-a-gun-ma_699841.jpg" --- # Never assume that simply having a gun makes you a… ![“Never assume that simply having a gun makes you a marksman. You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol than you are a musician because you own a guitar.” quote by Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/jeff-cooper-3700_assuming_never-assume-that-simply-having-a-gun-ma_699841.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/jeff-cooper-3700_assuming_never-assume-that-simply-having-a-gun-ma_699841.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/jeff-cooper-3700_assuming_never-assume-that-simply-having-a-gun-ma_699841.jpg) > “Never assume that simply having a gun makes you a marksman. You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol than you are a musician because you own a guitar.” [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. Skill comes from mastery, not mere possession of tools. **In simple terms:** Skill > equipment. Key Takeaway Practice to become proficient. Themes skill responsibility training Mood educational practical Type instructional philosophical When to use this quote - self-defense - sports shooting - musical performance Key Concepts competence self-reliance Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be truly skilled? - How do you develop competence? A Different Perspective Tools can give false confidence without skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Marksman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marksman/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Never assume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-assume/) [Pistols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pistols/) [Self defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-defense/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [It is long been a principal of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that-one-is-no-more-armed-because/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [A man who uses a great many words to express his meaning is like a bad marksman who, instead of aiming a single stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-man-who-uses-a-great-many-words-to-express-his-meaning-is-like-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Talent is like a marksman who hits a target which others cannot reach; genius is like a marksman who hits a target which others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/talent-is-like-a-marksman-who-hits-a-target-which-others-cannot-reach/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Most of my relatives are police marksmen, apart from my grandad who was a bank robber. He died recently, surrounded by his family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-jones/most-of-my-relatives-are-police-marksmen-apart-from-my-grandad-who/) [Milton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-jones/) > [You so need to lighten up about that potato-launcher incident," Butch said. Phury rolled his eyes and eased back in the banquette. "You broke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-so-need-to-lighten-up-about-that-potato-launcher-incident-butch/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [No gun is perfectly true. So the marksman, that he may hit the bull's-eye, points elsewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-iles/no-gun-is-perfectly-true-so-the-marksman-that-he-may-hit-the-bull-s/) [George Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-iles/) > [Can it be entirely accidental that the most famous fictional spy of them all, James Bond, Number 007, deadly marksman, intriguer, the ultimate man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/can-it-be-entirely-accidental-that-the-most-famous-fictional-spy-of/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) > [Fundamentally the marksman aims at himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/fundamentally-the-marksman-aims-at-himself/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [I love Hawkeye. I think it has something to with how he's such a marksman from far away. That's something I'd love to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/i-love-hawkeye-i-think-it-has-something-to-with-how-he-s-such-a/) [Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/) > [Philosophy is the art and law of life, and it teaches us what to do in all cases, and, like good marksmen, to hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/philosophy-is-the-art-and-law-of-life-and-it-teaches-us-what-to-do-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [alent is like the marksman who hits a target which others cannot reach; genius is like the marksman who hits a target, as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/alent-is-like-the-marksman-who-hits-a-target-which-others-cannot/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Social media has created a legion of social delinquents, billions of people speaking not their minds but their spleens, venting everything from the gum-cracking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weber/social-media-has-created-a-legion-of-social-delinquents-billions-of/) [Steven Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weber/) > [I am an avid hunter and marksman, and I will not hesitate to shoot anyone who has myself or family in fear for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-am-an-avid-hunter-and-marksman-and-i-will-not-hesitate-to-shoot/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [Alfredo Di Stéfano was the greatest footballer of all time - far better even than Pelé. He was, simultaneously, the anchor in defence, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helenio-herrera/alfredo-di-st-fano-was-the-greatest-footballer-of-all-time-far-better/) Helenio Herrera ## More by Jeff Cooper > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. 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. The felon does not fear the police,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/if-violent-crime-is-to-be-curbed-it-is-only-the-intended-victim-who/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Any man who is a man may not, in honor, submit to threats or violence. But many men who are not cowards are simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/any-man-who-is-a-man-may-not-in-honor-submit-to-threats-or-violence/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Weapons compound man's power to achieve; they amplify the capabilities of both the good man and the bad, and to exactly the same degree,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/weapons-compound-man-s-power-to-achieve-they-amplify-the-capabilities/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [It has long been my conviction that a masked man with a gun is a target. 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 Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never assume that simply having a gun makes you a marksman. 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