--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Adams first law of survival: Get even…" description: "\"Adams first law of survival: Get even first.\" — Randall Dale Adams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/randall-dale-adams-31088_ability_adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-fir_838606.jpg" --- # Adams first law of survival: Get even first. ![“Adams first law of survival: Get even first.” quote by Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/randall-dale-adams-31088_ability_adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-fir_838606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/randall-dale-adams-31088_ability_adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-fir_838606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/randall-dale-adams-31088_ability_adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-fir_838606.jpg) > “Adams first law of survival: Get even first.” [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The principle suggests that to survive, one must first ensure personal safety or advantage before addressing broader conflicts. **In simple terms:** Survival often requires securing your own position before confronting others. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal stability before seeking retaliation. Themes survival justice self‑preservation strategy Mood cautious critical Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - personal safety - legal battles - workplace politics - social activism Key Concepts first‑move advantage ethical dilemmas conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - Is it always necessary to “get even” first? - What alternatives exist to retaliation? A Different Perspective The advice can promote a tit‑for‑tat mindset, potentially escalating conflicts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adams/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) ## Related quotes > [“A law of survival, Ragle had said. Those who refused to respond to the new stimulus would perish. Adapt or perish . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/a-law-of-survival-ragle-had-said-those-who-refused-to-respond-to-the/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The law of the survival of the fittest led inevitably to the survival and predominance of the men who were effective in war and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/the-law-of-the-survival-of-the-fittest-led-inevitably-to-the-survival/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [The law is the survival of the fittest… The law is not the survival of the 'better' or the 'stronger,' if we give to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-law-is-the-survival-of-the-fittest-the-law-is-not-the-survival-of/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’ is really a special case of a more general law of survival of the stable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/darwin-s-survival-of-the-fittest-is-really-a-special-case-of-a-more/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [A drunkard in the gutter is just where he ought to be...The law of survival of the fittest was not made by man, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/a-drunkard-in-the-gutter-is-just-where-he-ought-to-be-the-law-of/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-smalley/the-survival-of-the-fittest-is-the-ageless-law-of-nature-but-the/) [Dave Smalley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-smalley/) > [I'm a fan of Douglas Adams, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berry/i-m-a-fan-of-douglas-adams-yes/) [Matt Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berry/) > [ \[John\] Adams never had an optimistic view of human nature, and his experience in the Congress and abroad only deepened his suspicion that his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-adams-never-had-an-optimistic-view-of-human-nature-and-his/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [ The economic answer to the world's problems is John Adams, not \[Karl\] Marx. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ringo/the-economic-answer-to-the-world-s-problems-is-john-adams-not-karl/) [John Ringo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ringo/) > [“We shall convince France and the world, that we are not a degraded people, humiliated under a colonial spirit of fear and a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-shall-convince-france-and-the-world-that-we-are-not-a-degraded/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“All right," said Ford. "How would you react if I said that I'm not from Guildford at all, but from a small planet somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/all-right-said-ford-how-would-you-react-if-i-said-that-i-m-not-from/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I pray heaven,” Adams wrote, “to bestow the best of blessings on this house, and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-pray-heaven-adams-wrote-to-bestow-the-best-of-blessings-on-this/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [I'll definitely say Davante Adams, one of the best at route running. I mean, I definitely grew up watching his tape and being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/i-ll-definitely-say-davante-adams-one-of-the-best-at-route-running-i/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [“Odysseus...sleeps sound beside Calypso and when he wakes thinks only of Penelope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/odysseus-sleeps-sound-beside-calypso-and-when-he-wakes-thinks-only-of/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“hornier than a bunny on ecstasy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-adams/hornier-than-a-bunny-on-ecstasy/) [Kyle Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-adams/) ## More by Randall Dale Adams > [If you simply cannot make the right decision, make a decision and then make it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/if-you-simply-cannot-make-the-right-decision-make-a-decision-and-then/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [Without a goal, you cannot survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/without-a-goal-you-cannot-survive/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [Graffiti is a pathetic attempt at anonymous recognition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/graffiti-is-a-pathetic-attempt-at-anonymous-recognition/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [Someday will never come and take you by the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/someday-will-never-come-and-take-you-by-the-hand/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [Do not be intimidated by a smart person. It is easier to debate a smart person than to argue with an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/do-not-be-intimidated-by-a-smart-person-it-is-easier-to-debate-a/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [You cannot win a game of tug-o-war by merely standing firm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/you-cannot-win-a-game-of-tug-o-war-by-merely-standing-firm/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [I don't believe in luck. When I am diligent, my luck is generally good. When I am lax, my invariable turns bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/i-don-t-believe-in-luck-when-i-am-diligent-my-luck-is-generally-good/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [Management: First fix the blame. Then fix the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/management-first-fix-the-blame-then-fix-the-problem/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [Loneliness cannot be shared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/loneliness-cannot-be-shared/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [There is the finest line between data and evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/there-is-the-finest-line-between-data-and-evidence/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [Do not fear lack of knowledge, talent or skill. Seek motivation and the others will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/do-not-fear-lack-of-knowledge-talent-or-skill-seek-motivation-and-the/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [If you want it to happen, you must make it happen. If you let it happen, you won't like what happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/if-you-want-it-to-happen-you-must-make-it-happen-if-you-let-it-happen/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [Profanity is the result of a weak mind trying to express itself forcably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/profanity-is-the-result-of-a-weak-mind-trying-to-express-itself/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [A kite can be flown in an absolute vacuum if it can be towed at the speed of light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/a-kite-can-be-flown-in-an-absolute-vacuum-if-it-can-be-towed-at-the/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) > [Your integrity is more precious than your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/your-integrity-is-more-precious-than-your-life/) [Randall Dale Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) [Explore all 16 Randall Dale Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Adams first law of survival: Get even first.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Randall Dale Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-first/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-first/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/randall-dale-adams-31088_ability_adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-fir_838606.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/randall-dale-adams-31088_ability_adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-fir_838606.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/709/randall-dale-adams-31088_ability_adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-fir_838606.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Adams first law of survival: Get even first.” — Randall Dale Adams", "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": "Randall Dale Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-dale-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Adams first law of survival: Get...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-first/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-dale-adams/adams-first-law-of-survival-get-even-first/#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 } } ] } ```