--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You must never believe that the enemy…" description: "\"You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less dange..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_you-must-never-believe-that-the-enemy-do_343629.jpg" --- # You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to… ![“You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less danger, the more the enemy is weak or the less the enemy is cautious, so much more must you esteem him.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_you-must-never-believe-that-the-enemy-do_343629.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_you-must-never-believe-that-the-enemy-do_343629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_you-must-never-believe-that-the-enemy-do_343629.jpg) > “You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less danger, the more the enemy is weak or the less the enemy is cautious, so much more must you esteem him.” [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. Never underestimate an opponent; even a weak or cautious enemy can be dangerous. **In simple terms:** Respect all foes. Key Takeaway Always assess enemy strength. Themes strategy caution power Mood serious analytical Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - military planning - business competition - negotiations Key Concepts political theory risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance vigilance with confidence? - What signs indicate an enemy’s hidden strength? A Different Perspective Over‑cautiousness can cause missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art of war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-war/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-enemy-1486572/) [Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Deceived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceived/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-cautious-3188109/) [Enemy Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-does-237866/) [Enemy Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-weak-668170/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) [Weak Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-enemy-2931704/) ## Related quotes > [Pretend to be weak, so your enemy may grow arrogant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/pretend-to-be-weak-so-your-enemy-may-grow-arrogant/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Contempt for China on the part of the enemy is his weak point. 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What if I scientifically informed you that the enemy within is the one you should deal with?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-santo/the-enemy-does-not-sleep-what-if-i-scientifically-informed-you-that/) [DON SANTO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-santo/) ## 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; 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