--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have learned that the enemy is us—our…" description: "\"“We have learned that the enemy is us—our own lack of self-confidence,”\" — Lynn Povich" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/lynn-povich-19082_confidence_we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our_1568905.jpg" --- # We have learned that the enemy is us—our own lack of… ![“We have learned that the enemy is us—our own lack of self-confidence,” quote by Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/lynn-povich-19082_confidence_we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our_1568905.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/lynn-povich-19082_confidence_we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our_1568905.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/lynn-povich-19082_confidence_we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our_1568905.jpg) > ““We have learned that the enemy is us—our own lack of self-confidence,”” [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that personal insecurity is the greatest obstacle we face, more than external enemies. **In simple terms:** Self‑doubt is our biggest enemy. Key Takeaway Build confidence to overcome inner barriers. Themes self‑confidence psychology obstacle Mood reflective motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - leadership - personal growth Key Concepts inner critic self‑esteem mental barriers Questions to Reflect On - What internal doubts limit you? - How can you reinforce self‑belief? A Different Perspective Confidence can be fragile and easily shaken. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) ## Related quotes > [Jealousy is the result of one's lack of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-azevedo/jealousy-is-the-result-of-one-s-lack-of-self-confidence-self-worth/) [Sasha Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-azevedo/) > [“ . . . Because of a lack of self-confidence and an inability to function independently . . .” It may be easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/because-of-a-lack-of-self-confidence-and-an-inability-to-function/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [It is easy to be nice, even to an enemy - from lack of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/it-is-easy-to-be-nice-even-to-an-enemy-from-lack-of-character/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [Actual combat experience is the only teacher. You never come out of a skirmish without having picked up a couple of new tricks; without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audie-murphy/actual-combat-experience-is-the-only-teacher-you-never-come-out-of-a/) [Audie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audie-murphy/) > [Our enemy is not lack of preparation; it’s not the difficulty of the project, or the state of the marketplace or the emptiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/our-enemy-is-not-lack-of-preparation-it-s-not-the-difficulty-of-the/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“The forces of chaos, I had learned, were only \*enemy forces if you attempted to resist them. The moment you accepted the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-maddox/the-forces-of-chaos-i-had-learned-were-only-enemy-forces-if-you/) Bruno Maddox > [Disempowerment - whether defined in terms of a lack of self-confidence , apathy, fear, or an inability to take charge of one's own life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/disempowerment-whether-defined-in-terms-of-a-lack-of-self-confidence/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [We all have tremendous potential, and we all are blessed with gifts. Yet, the one thing that holds all of us back is some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-have-tremendous-potential-and-we-all-are-blessed-with-gifts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Have the self-confidence to say no when it is necessary and the strength to stand alone. Give yourself the approval to love and respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-olson/have-the-self-confidence-to-say-no-when-it-is-necessary-and-the/) Jackie Olson > [At the level at which I work with people, their great talent is paired with great insecurity. Self-doubt is literally the twin of self-confidence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ivey-long/at-the-level-at-which-i-work-with-people-their-great-talent-is-paired/) William Ivey Long > [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [The best way to help Burma is to empower the people of Burma, to help us have enough self-confidence to obtain what we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/the-best-way-to-help-burma-is-to-empower-the-people-of-burma-to-help/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [A parent does not do everything for their kid. A parent that does everything for their kid produces a kid with no self-confidence. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/a-parent-does-not-do-everything-for-their-kid-a-parent-that-does/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Be confident in your self, because if you're not who will?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mulder/be-confident-in-your-self-because-if-you-re-not-who-will/) [Joseph Mulder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mulder/) > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) ## More by Lynn Povich > [“...at Newsweek only girls with college degrees--and we were called "girls" then--were hired to sort and deliver the mail, humbly pushing our carts from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/at-newsweek-only-girls-with-college-degrees-and-we-were-called-girls/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“Ellen Goodman, the Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist for the Boston Globe, said that for researchers, “the turnover was expected to be great because women didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/ellen-goodman-the-pulitzer-prize-winning-columnist-for-the-boston/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg agreed. “We reward men every step of the way—for being leaders, for being assertive, for taking risks, for being competitive,” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/facebook-s-sheryl-sandberg-agreed-we-reward-men-every-step-of-the-way/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“It wasn’t like I believed that sexism didn’t exist,” said Jesse. “It was just that it didn’t occur to me that what was happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/it-wasn-t-like-i-believed-that-sexism-didn-t-exist-said-jesse-it-was/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [I quickly realized that I enjoyed editing more than writing. I felt more suited to it and it fit my nurturing personality. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/i-quickly-realized-that-i-enjoyed-editing-more-than-writing-i-felt/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“Only when we got to the workforce did we start to care about gender issues. Now a lot of young women are realizing sexism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/only-when-we-got-to-the-workforce-did-we-start-to-care-about-gender/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“Sex, like color, is a meaningless criterion and an oppression criterion when it is made a condition for a job,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/sex-like-color-is-a-meaningless-criterion-and-an-oppression-criterion/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“What led to our revolt? Why did our generation suddenly realize that our place in society was changing--and had to change? In part, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/what-led-to-our-revolt-why-did-our-generation-suddenly-realize-that/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“I was a good girl," she said. "I learned something about the world and found the courage not to be a good girl.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/i-was-a-good-girl-she-said-i-learned-something-about-the-world-and/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“when it came to giving the women higher pay or promotions, the Digest was not so concerned. “There were end-of-the-year reviews with two lists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/when-it-came-to-giving-the-women-higher-pay-or-promotions-the-digest/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“For every man there was an inferior woman, for every writer there was a checker,” said Nora Ephron.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/for-every-man-there-was-an-inferior-woman-for-every-writer-there-was/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“In 1971, Congress had approved the Comprehensive Child Development Act, which would have provided child care on a sliding fee scale to working parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/in-1971-congress-had-approved-the-comprehensive-child-development-act/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“Recognizing that sexism still exists, they said, “is one of the challenges of the new generation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/recognizing-that-sexism-still-exists-they-said-is-one-of-the/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [Change is often rejuvenating, invigoration, fun... and necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/change-is-often-rejuvenating-invigoration-fun-and-necessary/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) > [“For every man there was an inferior woman, for every writer there was a checker," said Nora Ephron. "they were the artists and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/for-every-man-there-was-an-inferior-woman-for-every-writer-there-was-2/) [Lynn Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) [Explore all 33 Lynn Povich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We have learned that the enemy is us—our own lack of self-confidence,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lynn Povich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our-own-lack-of-self-confidence/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our-own-lack-of-self-confidence/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/lynn-povich-19082_confidence_we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our_1568905.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/lynn-povich-19082_confidence_we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our_1568905.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/lynn-povich-19082_confidence_we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our_1568905.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have learned that the enemy is us—our own lack of self-confidence,” — Lynn Povich", "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": "Lynn Povich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-povich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We have learned that the enemy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our-own-lack-of-self-confidence/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-povich/we-have-learned-that-the-enemy-is-us-our-own-lack-of-self-confidence/#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 } } ] } ```