--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many people think it impossible for…" description: "\"Many people think it impossible for guerrillas to exist for long in the enemy's rear. Such a belief reveals lack of comprehension of the relationship t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/mao-zedong-1123_belief_many-people-think-it-impossible-for-guer_999257.jpg" --- # Many people think it impossible for guerrillas to exist… ![“Many people think it impossible for guerrillas to exist for long in the enemy's rear. Such a belief reveals lack of comprehension of the relationship that should exist between the people and the troops. The former may be likened to water the latter to the fish who inhabit it. How may it be said…” quote by Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/mao-zedong-1123_belief_many-people-think-it-impossible-for-guer_999257.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/mao-zedong-1123_belief_many-people-think-it-impossible-for-guer_999257.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/mao-zedong-1123_belief_many-people-think-it-impossible-for-guer_999257.jpg) > “Many people think it impossible for guerrillas to exist for long in the enemy's rear. Such a belief reveals lack of comprehension of the relationship that should exist between the people and the troops. The former may be likened to water the latter to the fish who inhabit it. How may it be said that these two cannot exist together?” [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Guerrilla fighters can coexist with the populace like fish in water; misunderstanding this leads to flawed strategy. **In simple terms:** Guerrillas and people can live together harmoniously. Key Takeaway Integrate troops with local communities. Themes warfare people‑troop relations strategy coexistence Mood strategic reflective Type political military When to use this quote - counterinsurgency - civil‑military cooperation - community outreach - political education Key Concepts hearts of people military doctrine social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can armies earn civilian trust? - What examples show successful integration? A Different Perspective Assuming separation can cause conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Comprehension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comprehension/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy Rear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-rear-1279939/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes/) [Former](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/former/) [Guerrillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guerrillas/) [Guerrillas Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guerrillas-exist-2097045/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Impossible Guerrillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-guerrillas-2097046/) [Latter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latter/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-troops-2097047/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [“16. While we keep away from such places, we should get the enemy to approach them; while we face them, we should let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/16-while-we-keep-away-from-such-places-we-should-get-the-enemy-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The enemy’s rear is the guerrillas’ front; they themselves have no rear. Their logistical problems are solved in a direct and elementary fashion: The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marshall/the-enemy-s-rear-is-the-guerrillas-front-they-themselves-have-no-rear/) [Sebastian Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marshall/) > [If we offer a prize, so to speak, to anyone who manages to bring a country under his physical control - namely, that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/if-we-offer-a-prize-so-to-speak-to-anyone-who-manages-to-bring-a/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [Minister and writer Barbara Kaufmann has addressed the subject of guerrilla decontextualization on both the 'Voices Compassionate Education' website and on 'Inner Michael', where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/minister-and-writer-barbara-kaufmann-has-addressed-the-subject-of/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [The military ain't there for the people's protection, They're just there to protect an investment. That's why people get arrested, electrocuted, molested, Connected streets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/the-military-ain-t-there-for-the-people-s-protection-they-re-just/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [George Washington hated the guerrillas. He wanted to imitate the British red coat armies, fighting as gentlemen are supposed to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/george-washington-hated-the-guerrillas-he-wanted-to-imitate-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“This was a matter of some small group of guerrillas in some distant caves, a primitive, fanatical, and desperate people who didn't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/this-was-a-matter-of-some-small-group-of-guerrillas-in-some-distant/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“The Scouts’ ‘pseudo’ teams had already captured dozens of rebels, and even when operations had failed had managed to sow confusion and paranoia among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-duns/the-scouts-pseudo-teams-had-already-captured-dozens-of-rebels-and/) [Jeremy Duns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-duns/) > [Guerrilla war is a test of wills. Obama's actual objectives - rollback in Iraq, containment in Syria - are not unreasonable. But they require…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/guerrilla-war-is-a-test-of-wills-obama-s-actual-objectives-rollback/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [When Marxist dictators shoot their way into power in Central America, the Democrats don't blame the guerrillas and their Soviet allies, they blame United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/when-marxist-dictators-shoot-their-way-into-power-in-central-america/) [Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/) > [There's no doubt that Boko Haram has been driven from many of its strongholds in northeastern Nigeria. Now, President Muhammadu Buhari says technically, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ofeibea-quist-arcton/there-s-no-doubt-that-boko-haram-has-been-driven-from-many-of-its/) [Ofeibea Quist-Arcton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ofeibea-quist-arcton/) > [The implied threat of using nuclear weapons to curb guerrillas was as absurd as to talk of using a sledge hammer to ward off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-implied-threat-of-using-nuclear-weapons-to-curb-guerrillas-was-as/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [I had been a guerrilla leader in World War II. And I used to say that the way to fight the guerrilla was with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-hilsman/i-had-been-a-guerrilla-leader-in-world-war-ii-and-i-used-to-say-that/) [Roger Hilsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-hilsman/) > [The United States can certainly defeat North Vietnam, but the United States cannot defeat a guerrilla war which is being raged from a sanctuary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-united-states-can-certainly-defeat-north-vietnam-but-the-united/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [“The rank and file members of the guerrillas and their civilian sympathizers paid some of the heaviest prices during the war and a recurrent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ching/the-rank-and-file-members-of-the-guerrillas-and-their-civilian/) [Erik Ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ching/) ## More by Mao Zedong > [Firstly, do not fear hardship, and secondly, do not fear death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/firstly-do-not-fear-hardship-and-secondly-do-not-fear-death/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [The most effective method of propaganda directed at the enemy forces is to release captured soldiers and give the wounded medical treatment... 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We must esteem them as teachers, learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-must-learn-to-do-economic-work-from-all-who-know-how-no-matter-who/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/a-revolution-is-not-a-dinner-party-or-writing-an-essay-or-painting-a/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [At the beginning of anything out of the ordinary, the mass of the people always dislike it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/at-the-beginning-of-anything-out-of-the-ordinary-the-mass-of-the/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Winds flap the sail, tortoise and snake are silent, a great plan looms. A bridge will fly over this moat dug by heaven and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/winds-flap-the-sail-tortoise-and-snake-are-silent-a-great-plan-looms/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/let-a-hundred-flowers-bloom-let-a-hundred-schools-of-thought-contend/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [ In the struggle to defend the legacy of Leninism . . . \[Stalin\] proved himself to be an outstanding Marxist-Leninist fighter. . . .… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/in-the-struggle-to-defend-the-legacy-of-leninism-stalin-proved/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [New things have to experience difficulties and setbacks as they grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/new-things-have-to-experience-difficulties-and-setbacks-as-they-grow/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [It is necessary to master Marxist theory and apply it, master it for the sole purpose of applying it. If you can apply the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/it-is-necessary-to-master-marxist-theory-and-apply-it-master-it-for/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [It is a very good thing, and a significant one too, to exterminate the bourgeoisie and capitalism in China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/it-is-a-very-good-thing-and-a-significant-one-too-to-exterminate-the/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [Return to Shaoshan I regret the passing, the dying, of the vague dream: my native orchards thirty-two years ago. 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Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. 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