--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To know in war how to recognize an…" description: "\"To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/niccolo-machiavelli-368_art_to-know-in-war-how-to-recognize-an-oppor_553916.jpg" --- # To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize… ![“To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/niccolo-machiavelli-368_art_to-know-in-war-how-to-recognize-an-oppor_553916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/niccolo-machiavelli-368_art_to-know-in-war-how-to-recognize-an-oppor_553916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/niccolo-machiavelli-368_art_to-know-in-war-how-to-recognize-an-oppor_553916.jpg) > “To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.” [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding war requires spotting and acting on fleeting chances, which outweigh other skills. **In simple terms:** War success depends on seizing chances. Key Takeaway Look for and act on opportunities. Themes strategy war opportunity Mood determined analytical Type strategic pragmatic When to use this quote - military campaigns - business negotiations - political campaigns - emergency response Key Concepts Machiavellian tactical decisionmaking Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify a true opportunity? - What risks accompany swift action? A Different Perspective Seizing opportunities can be risky if misread. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art of war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-war/) [Know War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-war/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity Seize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-seize-630071/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Recognize Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize-opportunity-1079570/) [Seize Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seize-better-4605673/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-recognize-3435949/) ## Related quotes > [In this age when there can be no losers in peace and no victors in war; we must recognize the obligation to match national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/in-this-age-when-there-can-be-no-losers-in-peace-and-no-victors-in/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Japan suffered terribly from the atomic bomb but never adopted a pose of moral superiority, implying: 'We would never have done it!' The Japanese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/japan-suffered-terribly-from-the-atomic-bomb-but-never-adopted-a-pose/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [This American system of ours,call it Americanism,call it capitalism,call it what you will,gives each and every one of us a great opportunity if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capone/this-american-system-of-ours-call-it-americanism-call-it-capitalism/) [Al Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capone/) > [There's always opportunity in the now. If I'm there, I will seize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-waterson/there-s-always-opportunity-in-the-now-if-i-m-there-i-will-seize-it/) [Michelle Waterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-waterson/) > [Be ready for when your time comes, you will have that window of opportunity, so seize the moment and capitalise on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-anderson/be-ready-for-when-your-time-comes-you-will-have-that-window-of/) [Anthony Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-anderson/) > [Offering hope to the German people, I said that freedom from militarism would give them the opportunity, if they would but seize it, "to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-byrnes/offering-hope-to-the-german-people-i-said-that-freedom-from/) [James F. Byrnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-byrnes/) > [If You had one Shot or one opportunity to seize everything... Would u capure it ? Or just let it slip?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/if-you-had-one-shot-or-one-opportunity-to-seize-everything-would-u/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [Capitalism gives all of us a great opportunity if we seize it with both hands and hang on to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capone/capitalism-gives-all-of-us-a-great-opportunity-if-we-seize-it-with/) [Al Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capone/) > [Instead of waiting for the opportunity seize the moment. You can achieve anything you want to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-waiting-for-the-opportunity-seize-the-moment-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Freedom from militarism will give the German people the opportunity, if they will but seize it, to apply their great energies and abilities to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-byrnes/freedom-from-militarism-will-give-the-german-people-the-opportunity/) [James F. Byrnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-byrnes/) > [“Inbetween yesterday's regret and tomorrow's dream is today's opportunity. Seize the chance!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/inbetween-yesterday-s-regret-and-tomorrow-s-dream-is-today-s/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [“Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment Would you capture it? Or just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-collins/look-if-you-had-one-shot-or-one-opportunity-to-seize-everything-you/) [Jim Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-collins/) > [Moving to 100 percent renewable energy is a good economic opportunity, one that the U.S. must seize before other nations take full advantage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-haaland/moving-to-100-percent-renewable-energy-is-a-good-economic-opportunity/) [Deb Haaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-haaland/) > [The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-reason-a-lot-of-people-do-not-recognize-opportunity-is-because-it/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity. To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment. Would you capture it or just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/look-if-you-had-one-shot-or-one-opportunity-to-seize-everything-you-3/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) ## More by Niccolo Machiavelli > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-prince-is-highly-esteemed-who-conveys-this-impression-of-himself/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-studies-present-and-ancient-affairs-will-easily-see-how-in/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in-which-they-foresee/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-causes-another-to-become-powerful-ruins-himself-for-he-brings/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-never-finds-anything-perfectly-pure-and-exempt-from-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 590 Niccolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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