--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't fight a battle you don't think…" description: "\"You can't fight a battle you don't think exists.\" — John Eldredge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-eldredge-1487_battle_you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think_2571758.png" --- # You can't fight a battle you don't think exists. ![“You can't fight a battle you don't think exists.” quote by John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-eldredge-1487_battle_you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think_2571758.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-eldredge-1487_battle_you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think_2571758.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-eldredge-1487_battle_you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think_2571758.png) > “You can't fight a battle you don't think exists.” [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You cannot oppose a conflict you fail to acknowledge. **In simple terms:** Recognition precedes action. Key Takeaway Identify hidden challenges before confronting them. Themes self-awareness conflict mindset growth psychology Mood introspective motivational Type psychology self-help When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace disputes - mental health - social issues Key Concepts cognitive bias denial inner battle Questions to Reflect On - What unseen conflicts affect you? - How can awareness change outcomes? A Different Perspective Ignoring issues may allow them to worsen unnoticed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exists/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Fight Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-battle-412329/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Think Exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-exists-952946/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I went off to fight some battle that I'd invented inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sting/i-went-off-to-fight-some-battle-that-i-d-invented-inside-me/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sting/) > [We can speak and think only of what exists. And what exists is uncreated and imperishable for it is whole and unchanging and complete.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parmenides/we-can-speak-and-think-only-of-what-exists-and-what-exists-is/) [Parmenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parmenides/) > [I don't believe in perfection. I don't think it exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/i-don-t-believe-in-perfection-i-don-t-think-it-exists/) [Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/) > [I don't think the world objectively exists the way we think it exists. There's a constant sort of storytelling process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-don-t-think-the-world-objectively-exists-the-way-we-think-it-exists/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I do believe that mentorship is something I did not get in school, and I don't think it exists in school in a sufficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-neumann/i-do-believe-that-mentorship-is-something-i-did-not-get-in-school-and/) [Adam Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-neumann/) > [ “\[And while people ran about proclaiming such things,\] I could only think that everything exists because of loss. From the bricks of our buildings,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/and-while-people-ran-about-proclaiming-such-things-i-could-only-think/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [You don't believe in love, do you?" - "I think it exists. I just don't think it will ever exist for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-don-t-believe-in-love-do-you-i-think-it-exists-i-just-don-t-think/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Somewhere in my head I have this idea of a perfect guy. But I don't think he even exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-suzuma/somewhere-in-my-head-i-have-this-idea-of-a-perfect-guy-but-i-don-t/) [Tabitha Suzuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-suzuma/) > [You don't have to aim to be the best of everything, thinking that one day you're going to be the top of the world;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/you-don-t-have-to-aim-to-be-the-best-of-everything-thinking-that-one/) [Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/) > [In my mind I think love is an illusion that we think exists but in reality its not really there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey/in-my-mind-i-think-love-is-an-illusion-that-we-think-exists-but-in/) [Kelsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey/) > [“Until you fight the battle against time, you won’t know how best to manage your time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/until-you-fight-the-battle-against-time-you-won-t-know-how-best-to/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Life is UNFAIR...it will only give you what you fight for, so learn to fight EVERY battle in the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-unfair-it-will-only-give-you-what-you-fight-for-so-learn-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“One of two things will happen. Either the dead will defeat the living, in which case all our troubles come to end. Or life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/littlefinger/one-of-two-things-will-happen-either-the-dead-will-defeat-the-living/) [Littlefinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/littlefinger/) > [Sometimes letting go without a fight is better than to fight the battle that you already knew that you have lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noxolo-zulu/sometimes-letting-go-without-a-fight-is-better-than-to-fight-the/) [Noxolo Zulu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noxolo-zulu/) > [“Mr. Haverstrom closes the door, leaving Patrick and me alone in the hallway. Pat smiles slickly, leaning in toward me. I step back until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/mr-haverstrom-closes-the-door-leaving-patrick-and-me-alone-in-the/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) ## More by John Eldredge > [To find God, you must look with all your heart. To remain present to God, you must remain present to your heart. To hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/to-find-god-you-must-look-with-all-your-heart-to-remain-present-to/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [ “There is a satisfaction we don't want to come to until we come to it in God…\[Disappointments\] serve to remind us every day that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/there-is-a-satisfaction-we-don-t-want-to-come-to-until-we-come-to-it/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [The early Celtic Christians called the Holy Spirit 'the wild goose.' And the reason why is they knew that you cannot tame him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-early-celtic-christians-called-the-holy-spirit-the-wild-goose-and/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [The real you is on the side of God against the false self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-real-you-is-on-the-side-of-god-against-the-false-self/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“The authors challenge that the marriage in which one cannot express disappointment has become an idol – The Thing that Cannot Be Questioned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-authors-challenge-that-the-marriage-in-which-one-cannot-express/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [A man's calling is written on his true heart, and he discovers it when he enters the frontier of his deep desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/a-man-s-calling-is-written-on-his-true-heart-and-he-discovers-it-when/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [In the end, it doesn’t matter how well we have performed or what we have accomplished—a life without heart is not worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/in-the-end-it-doesn-t-matter-how-well-we-have-performed-or-what-we/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [Whatever their age, most men have never received true fathering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/whatever-their-age-most-men-have-never-received-true-fathering/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [I'm married. I have three children. I have a mortgage to pay. The plumbing breaks and the yard needs trimming. However, what my wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/i-m-married-i-have-three-children-i-have-a-mortgage-to-pay-the/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“He is on a mission to rescue a people who are so utterly deceived most of them don’t even want to be rescued.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/he-is-on-a-mission-to-rescue-a-people-who-are-so-utterly-deceived/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“Something has gone wrong in us, very wrong indeed. So wrong that we have to be told that joy is found not in having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/something-has-gone-wrong-in-us-very-wrong-indeed-so-wrong-that-we/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“We don’t need accountability groups; we need fellow warriors, someone to fight alongside, someone to watch our back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/we-don-t-need-accountability-groups-we-need-fellow-warriors-someone/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [We don't see clearly because we don't see with the eyes of our heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/we-don-t-see-clearly-because-we-don-t-see-with-the-eyes-of-our-heart/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-story-of-your-life-is-the-story-of-the-long-and-brutal-assault-on/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [I have a call to speak, to write, to do sort of deep-heart surgery in people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/i-have-a-call-to-speak-to-write-to-do-sort-of-deep-heart-surgery-in/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) [Explore all 233 John Eldredge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) ## 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": "You can't fight a battle you don't think exists.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Eldredge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think-exists/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think-exists/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-eldredge-1487_battle_you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think_2571758.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-eldredge-1487_battle_you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think_2571758.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-eldredge-1487_battle_you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think_2571758.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't fight a battle you don't think exists.” — John Eldredge", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Eldredge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't fight a battle you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think-exists/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/you-can-t-fight-a-battle-you-don-t-think-exists/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```