--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best way is to be strong enough to…" description: "\"“The best way is to be strong enough to make your enemy think twice about attacking you, yet not so aggressive that he feels threatened. Keep your swor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/lian-hearn-24230_attacking_the-best-way-is-to-be-strong-enough-to-m_2671932.png" --- # The best way is to be strong enough to make your enemy… ![“The best way is to be strong enough to make your enemy think twice about attacking you, yet not so aggressive that he feels threatened. Keep your sword sheathed as long as you can, but once it is unsheathed, use it without hesitation.” quote by Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/lian-hearn-24230_attacking_the-best-way-is-to-be-strong-enough-to-m_2671932.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/lian-hearn-24230_attacking_the-best-way-is-to-be-strong-enough-to-m_2671932.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/lian-hearn-24230_attacking_the-best-way-is-to-be-strong-enough-to-m_2671932.png) > ““The best way is to be strong enough to make your enemy think twice about attacking you, yet not so aggressive that he feels threatened. Keep your sword sheathed as long as you can, but once it is unsheathed, use it without hesitation.”” [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strength lies in restraint; display power only when necessary to deter aggression. **In simple terms:** Be strong yet restrained. Key Takeaway Show power sparingly. Themes strategy restraint deterrence Mood cautious calm Type advisory strategic When to use this quote - military negotiations - personal conflicts - business competition - self‑defense Key Concepts power dynamics confidence self‑control Questions to Reflect On - When is it wiser to act now rather than wait? - How can you signal strength without provoking hostility? A Different Perspective Over‑restraint may invite exploitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacking/) [Attacking Aggressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacking-aggressive-2509138/) [Feels Threatened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels-threatened-302081/) [Strong enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enough/) [Sword Sheathed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword-sheathed-2509137/) [Threatened Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatened-sword-2509136/) ## Related quotes > [“Unhappy it is, though, to reflect that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a brother's breast and that the once-happy plains of America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/unhappy-it-is-though-to-reflect-that-a-brother-s-sword-has-been/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [When in a fight to the death, one wants to employ all one's weapons to the utmost. I must say that to die with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/when-in-a-fight-to-the-death-one-wants-to-employ-all-one-s-weapons-to/) [Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/) > [“A cape of white fur hung from his shoulders, and a sword was sheathed at his side. Atop its hilt perched a wyvern, open-mouthed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/a-cape-of-white-fur-hung-from-his-shoulders-and-a-sword-was-sheathed/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I don't understand why Brandon Flowers keeps taking shots at us. Maybe he feels threatened, but he seems to be doing just fine on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/i-don-t-understand-why-brandon-flowers-keeps-taking-shots-at-us-maybe/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [“The louder the dogs bark the less a lion feels threatened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-louder-the-dogs-bark-the-less-a-lion-feels-threatened/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“If the misogynist feels threatened that he is going to lose something that is important to him and therefore be humiliated, it is quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/if-the-misogynist-feels-threatened-that-he-is-going-to-lose-something/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [When you are a strong woman, you will attract trouble. When a man feels threatened, there is always trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/when-you-are-a-strong-woman-you-will-attract-trouble-when-a-man-feels/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [I believe when the country feels threatened it is important that we are seen to be working together to find an appropriate structure for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/i-believe-when-the-country-feels-threatened-it-is-important-that-we/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) > [He's a good tough producer, yes. But I don't think that he's unreasonable unless he feels threatened. And when somebody's in your home, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-minnelli/he-s-a-good-tough-producer-yes-but-i-don-t-think-that-he-s/) [Liza Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-minnelli/) > [Can you feel that there is something in you that is at war, something that feels threatened and wants to survive at all cost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/can-you-feel-that-there-is-something-in-you-that-is-at-war-something/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“If half this country feels so threatened by two people of the same gender being in love and having sex (and, incidentally, enjoying equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-levy/if-half-this-country-feels-so-threatened-by-two-people-of-the-same/) [Ariel Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-levy/) > [“In neurochemical terms, when he feels threatened or thwarted, Trump moves into a fight-or-flight state. His amygdala is triggered, his hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activates, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bandy-x-lee/in-neurochemical-terms-when-he-feels-threatened-or-thwarted-trump/) [Bandy X Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bandy-x-lee/) > [One can describe them as a boa: when it feels threatened, it runs to somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/one-can-describe-them-as-a-boa-when-it-feels-threatened-it-runs-to/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [“While fighting to survive the intense stream of information while trying to manage expectations and live up to standards, our inner self feels threatened.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-o-brien/while-fighting-to-survive-the-intense-stream-of-information-while/) [Alan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-o-brien/) > [Only a fool makes threats, and only another fool feels threatened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/only-a-fool-makes-threats-and-only-another-fool-feels-threatened/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More by Lian Hearn > [Don't you know the man whose life you spare will always hate you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/don-t-you-know-the-man-whose-life-you-spare-will-always-hate-you/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [“Kemarahan dan kesedihan sama-sama sulit dipikul”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/kemarahan-dan-kesedihan-sama-sama-sulit-dipikul/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [But just as the river is always at the door, so is the world always outside. And it is in the world that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/but-just-as-the-river-is-always-at-the-door-so-is-the-world-always/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [I am not made for despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/i-am-not-made-for-despair/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [I believe the test of government is the contentment of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/i-believe-the-test-of-government-is-the-contentment-of-the-people/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [...What does the blessing of heaven mean? We know the kirin is just an animal, not a mythical creature." It has become a symbol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/what-does-the-blessing-of-heaven-mean-we-know-the-kirin-is-just-an/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [“They reminded me of the people of my village, their indomitable spirit in the face of disaster, their unshakable belief that no matter what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/they-reminded-me-of-the-people-of-my-village-their-indomitable-spirit/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [“Like young fern shoots my child's fingers curled. I did not expect, in the fifth month, frost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/like-young-fern-shoots-my-child-s-fingers-curled-i-did-not-expect-in/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [When illusions are shattered by truth, talent is set free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/when-illusions-are-shattered-by-truth-talent-is-set-free/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [..while I was happy enough to pray to any god, knowing that they were simply different faces created by men, of one indivisible truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/while-i-was-happy-enough-to-pray-to-any-god-knowing-that-they-were/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [How was it possible for the world to be so beautiful and so cruel at the same time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/how-was-it-possible-for-the-world-to-be-so-beautiful-and-so-cruel-at/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [It's like a spell. It's so strong I can't fight it. Is love always like this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/it-s-like-a-spell-it-s-so-strong-i-can-t-fight-it-is-love-always-like/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [She entered a state where prayer and poetry became one and the everyday world seemed full of holiness and significance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/she-entered-a-state-where-prayer-and-poetry-became-one-and-the/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [I miss the days when I was alone with my characters and no one else knew them except me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/i-miss-the-days-when-i-was-alone-with-my-characters-and-no-one-else/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) > [“I learned embroidery," Kaede said, "But you can't kill anyone with a needle." "You can," Shizuka said offhandedly. "I'll show you one day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lian-hearn/i-learned-embroidery-kaede-said-but-you-can-t-kill-anyone-with-a/) [Lian Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) [Explore all 21 Lian Hearn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lian-hearn/) ## More Attacking quotes > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I've gotten better at calling out coverages, communication, and being vertical when they're attacking me in the paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivica-zubac/i-ve-gotten-better-at-calling-out-coverages-communication-and-being/) [Ivica Zubac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivica-zubac/) > [Before I signed for Liverpool, I was playing for Newcastle as a No. 10 - basically, I was always attacking. I didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/before-i-signed-for-liverpool-i-was-playing-for-newcastle-as-a-no-10/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [It's a big part of my game, attacking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-walker/it-s-a-big-part-of-my-game-attacking/) [Kyle Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-walker/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [This is really good,” Donovan Caine said, attacking his third strawberry pancake. “You sound surprised,” I said. He shrugged. “I just didn’t think an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/this-is-really-good-donovan-caine-said-attacking-his-third-strawberry/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [Dravid Could play attacking cricket like me but i could never play like him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gayle/dravid-could-play-attacking-cricket-like-me-but-i-could-never-play/) [Chris Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gayle/) > [Islamic fundamentalism is attacking us at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/islamic-fundamentalism-is-attacking-us-at-home/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [“California cat that chased off attacking”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/california-cat-that-chased-off-attacking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I listen to candidates spend all their time attacking Barack Obama, I'm glad they're not driving this bus because they'd be looking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/when-i-listen-to-candidates-spend-all-their-time-attacking-barack/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [For many years the stakes were clear. There were the Arabs attacking us and us defending ourselves, so basically there were no real problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/for-many-years-the-stakes-were-clear-there-were-the-arabs-attacking/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) [Browse all 580 Attacking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The best way is to be strong enough to make your enemy think twice about attacking you, yet not so aggressive that he feels threatened. 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