--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I won't start the battle, but if it…" description: "\"“I won't start the battle, but if it comes, I'll finish it.”\" — Jennifer A. Nielsen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/jennifer-a-nielsen-7308_war_i-won-t-start-the-battle-but-if-it-comes_1419242.jpg" --- # I won't start the battle, but if it comes, I'll finish it. ![“I won't start the battle, but if it comes, I'll finish it.” quote by Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/jennifer-a-nielsen-7308_war_i-won-t-start-the-battle-but-if-it-comes_1419242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/jennifer-a-nielsen-7308_war_i-won-t-start-the-battle-but-if-it-comes_1419242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/jennifer-a-nielsen-7308_war_i-won-t-start-the-battle-but-if-it-comes_1419242.jpg) > ““I won't start the battle, but if it comes, I'll finish it.”” [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A resolve to face conflict when it arrives, even if one prefers to avoid initiating it. **In simple terms:** Commit to finish what you start when forced. Key Takeaway Accept responsibility when challenges arise. Themes courage responsibility conflict Mood determined serious Type motivational advice When to use this quote - leadership decisions - team projects - personal crises - unexpected obstacles Key Concepts Stoicism duty resilience Questions to Reflect On - When have you avoided a problem that later required your full effort? - Can you balance avoidance with preparedness? A Different Perspective It may ignore the importance of preventing conflict in the first place. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [For after the Battle comes quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-after-the-battle-comes-quiet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Start a battle with me I will convert it into a war which I will win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chops/start-a-battle-with-me-i-will-convert-it-into-a-war-which-i-will-win/) [Chops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chops/) > [In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/in-every-battle-there-comes-a-time-when-both-sides-consider/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [All battles are won before they start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/all-battles-are-won-before-they-start/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [After all this, I won't start to hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/after-all-this-i-won-t-start-to-hate-you/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [No one will ever see me quit, because I simply won't. If I start something, I will finish it and do it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-belmarsh/no-one-will-ever-see-me-quit-because-i-simply-won-t-if-i-start/) Steve Belmarsh > [“I want you to know that when it comes, when it all falls down, it’s your fault, you worthless, stupid bitch. I should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-want-you-to-know-that-when-it-comes-when-it-all-falls-down-it-s/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [If you look up every last detail on your subject, you'll never finish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/if-you-look-up-every-last-detail-on-your-subject-you-ll-never-finish/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [...the only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you'll finish it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/the-only-way-to-get-a-thing-done-is-to-start-to-do-it-then-keep-on/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [I'll finish fan signs later I promise i have family over now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-finish-fan-signs-later-i-promise-i-have-family-over-now/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's a sure thing that you'll not finish if you don't start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/it-s-a-sure-thing-that-you-ll-not-finish-if-you-don-t-start/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [After finals and winter break...after I'm back to full strength, we'll go get Preston. Whether Mom and Abby and Joe and Townsend like it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/after-finals-and-winter-break-after-i-m-back-to-full-strength-we-ll/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“You know, nice guys finish last, don't you?" "I guess I'll finish last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalpa-williby/you-know-nice-guys-finish-last-don-t-you-i-guess-i-ll-finish-last/) Jalpa Williby > [“It's all right, darling. I'll finish the financial report on my own. I can think clearly before sex and stay awake afterwards. That's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/it-s-all-right-darling-i-ll-finish-the-financial-report-on-my-own-i/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [I've always said I'll finish my career with UFC no matter how it ended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hardy/i-ve-always-said-i-ll-finish-my-career-with-ufc-no-matter-how-it-ended/) [Dan Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hardy/) ## More by Jennifer A. Nielsen > [“Get me a real chair”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/get-me-a-real-chair/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Kneel, please," Connor said. "I wish to study you better." Come as close to me as you'd like," I answered. "Study me here, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/kneel-please-connor-said-i-wish-to-study-you-better-come-as-close-to/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“I need a sword first," I said. "People here keep taking mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/i-need-a-sword-first-i-said-people-here-keep-taking-mine/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“No offense, Jaron, but I don't want your life. Even locked away behind closed doors I got a taste for how awful it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/no-offense-jaron-but-i-don-t-want-your-life-even-locked-away-behind/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Truly, it is in the darkness that one finds the light”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/truly-it-is-in-the-darkness-that-one-finds-the-light/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“I thought you were from a civilized country," he said. "How have you come to look more like Carthya's whipping boy than its king?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/i-thought-you-were-from-a-civilized-country-he-said-how-have-you-come/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“Above all else, I think that you are a compulsive liar." My laughter was tense, but sincere. "Hardly. In fact, I consider myself a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/above-all-else-i-think-that-you-are-a-compulsive-liar-my-laughter-was/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“This is for you." i pressed the stone in Kerwyn's hand. Kerwyn turned it over in his hands, unimpressed. "imatator's gold? It's worthless." "No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/this-is-for-you-i-pressed-the-stone-in-kerwyn-s-hand-kerwyn-turned-it/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“As part of the grand joke that had become my life, the gods had given me a master with the wit of a withered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/as-part-of-the-grand-joke-that-had-become-my-life-the-gods-had-given/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“...a strong heart will always overcome a strong body”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/a-strong-heart-will-always-overcome-a-strong-body/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“How is it that you can see your enemies so clearly and never your friends?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/how-is-it-that-you-can-see-your-enemies-so-clearly-and-never-your/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“It would take entire lifetimes for the men of Carthya to deserve their women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/it-would-take-entire-lifetimes-for-the-men-of-carthya-to-deserve/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“If I was going to fight this beast — regardless of how poor my chances were — I needed the use of both hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/if-i-was-going-to-fight-this-beast-regardless-of-how-poor-my-chances/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“I replied with an Avenian accent. "Is the priest of this church still here?" "No." He squinted at me. "Never seen you before. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/i-replied-with-an-avenian-accent-is-the-priest-of-this-church-still/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) > [“One of the greatest kings?” My smile widened. “That’s it? Why not the greatest?” “This will only make your arrogance worse, I’m sure.” “Really?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-a-nielsen/one-of-the-greatest-kings-my-smile-widened-that-s-it-why-not-the/) [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) [Explore all 91 Jennifer A. Nielsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-a-nielsen/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. 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. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. 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": "“I won't start the battle, but if it comes, I'll finish it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jennifer A. 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