--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot defeat him. We can only buy you…" description: "\"“We cannot defeat him. We can only buy you time... Twelve minutes... I can give you that”\" — Rick Riordan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/rick-riordan-27_defeat_we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you_221979.jpg" --- # We cannot defeat him. We can only buy you time... Twelve… ![“We cannot defeat him. We can only buy you time... Twelve minutes... I can give you that” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/rick-riordan-27_defeat_we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you_221979.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/rick-riordan-27_defeat_we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you_221979.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/rick-riordan-27_defeat_we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you_221979.jpg) > ““We cannot defeat him. We can only buy you time... Twelve minutes... I can give you that”” [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character acknowledges that while they cannot directly defeat an opponent, they can buy time, suggesting strategic delay as a tactic. **In simple terms:** We can’t win directly, but we can buy time. Key Takeaway Use strategic pauses to gain advantage. Themes strategy patience resource management Mood tense strategic Type fictional motivational When to use this quote - negotiations - military planning - business competition - personal conflict Key Concepts tactical delay time buying psychological warfare Questions to Reflect On - When is buying time effective? - What risks accompany delays? A Different Perspective Time buying may only postpone inevitable outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [You can't buy time or save it, common idioms notwithstanding. You can only spend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-zorn/you-can-t-buy-time-or-save-it-common-idioms-notwithstanding-you-can/) [Eric Zorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-zorn/) > [“You can't buy back time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-filardi/you-can-t-buy-back-time/) Christine Filardi > [One of the great illusions of our time is that hurrying will buy us more time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-great-illusions-of-our-time-is-that-hurrying-will-buy-us/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [What good is all the cash if it doesn't buy time and what good is bein famous if I'm never on your mind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/what-good-is-all-the-cash-if-it-doesn-t-buy-time-and-what-good-is/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [You can't buy time. Everything, for me, seems to be a race against time. Especially musically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/you-can-t-buy-time-everything-for-me-seems-to-be-a-race-against-time/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [For every book you buy, you should buy the time to read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/for-every-book-you-buy-you-should-buy-the-time-to-read-it/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [“buying books would be a good thing if we also could buy the time to read them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/buying-books-would-be-a-good-thing-if-we-also-could-buy-the-time-to/) [arthur schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [You can’t buy time, Nick. Ever. It’s the only thing in life you can’t get most of, and it’s the one thing that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-can-t-buy-time-nick-ever-it-s-the-only-thing-in-life-you-can-t/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The only thing we can't buy more of is time." she said. "And dodo birds. We can't buy any more of them. they're extinct.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/the-only-thing-we-can-t-buy-more-of-is-time-she-said-and-dodo-birds/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Spent hundred thousand on the watch, who said you cant buy the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-quperlier/spent-hundred-thousand-on-the-watch-who-said-you-cant-buy-the-time/) [Simon Quperlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-quperlier/) > [Time. I would have gone somewhere to buy time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/time-i-would-have-gone-somewhere-to-buy-time/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“Just as money can’t buy happiness, neither can it buy time affluence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/just-as-money-can-t-buy-happiness-neither-can-it-buy-time-affluence/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [I wish I could Buy Time - just write a cheque, and a few days later a brown cardboard box would arrive at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-wish-i-could-buy-time-just-write-a-cheque-and-a-few-days-later-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Top 15 Things Money Can’t Buy Time. Happiness. Inner Peace. Integrity. Love. Character. Manners. Health. Respect. Morals. Trust. Patience. Class. Common sense. Dignity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-t-bennett/top-15-things-money-can-t-buy-time-happiness-inner-peace-integrity/) [Roy T. Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-t-bennett/) > [City people try to buy time as a rule, when they can, whereas country people are prepared to kill time, although both try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hoagland/city-people-try-to-buy-time-as-a-rule-when-they-can-whereas-country/) [Edward Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hoagland/) ## More by Rick Riordan > [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. I’d been hanging around dryads”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-made-sense-and-i-felt-kind-of-stupid-i-d-been-hanging-around-dryads/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“That awkward moment when you jump out a window because your friend jumped out a window, then you remember that your other friend can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-awkward-moment-when-you-jump-out-a-window-because-your-friend/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“He started toward the entrance. Seriously, how could he not? He stopped when he noticed the girl. She was kneeling in her vegetable garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-started-toward-the-entrance-seriously-how-could-he-not-he-stopped/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“When you take someone’s hand and lead them to Valhalla, you get a glimpse into their soul.” “Did that happen when you took me?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/when-you-take-someone-s-hand-and-lead-them-to-valhalla-you-get-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“he didn’t look as good as Piper had last night after she’d suddenly been transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-didn-t-look-as-good-as-piper-had-last-night-after-she-d-suddenly/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Leo plunked the cheese wheel in front of me. "Cut me a wedge of this, my good ma. Chop-chop!" I scowled at him. "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-plunked-the-cheese-wheel-in-front-of-me-cut-me-a-wedge-of-this-my/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my onw father, Shu-" "Hang on," I said. "Shoe?" "S-h-u," she said. "The god of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-disobeyed-ra-s-wishes-and-so-he-ordered-my-onw-father-shu-hang-on-i/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded Jason, as if waiting for an attack. "If the others found out-" "If the others found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nico-knelt-and-picked-it-up-he-regarded-jason-as-if-waiting-for-an/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/wouldn-t-that-put-a-twist-in-your-toga/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Explore all 2,993 Rick Riordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More Defeat quotes > [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Defeat furnishes good material to the poets and the artists, but none of us care to have the glory of the conquered apply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/defeat-furnishes-good-material-to-the-poets-and-the-artists-but-none/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [“We don't have to defeat any individual but our own self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/we-don-t-have-to-defeat-any-individual-but-our-own-self/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [“Defeat is a disease, and victory is the cure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defeat-is-a-disease-and-victory-is-the-cure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The glow of victory and the harsh chill of defeat are two sides of the same coin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-lenartowicz/the-glow-of-victory-and-the-harsh-chill-of-defeat-are-two-sides-of/) Maria Lenartowicz > [After a big defeat, any player feels affected - it is about how long he needs to recover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/after-a-big-defeat-any-player-feels-affected-it-is-about-how-long-he/) [Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/) > [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gichin-funakoshi/the-ultimate-aim-of-karate-lies-not-in-victory-or-defeat-but-in-the/) [Gichin Funakoshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gichin-funakoshi/) > [It has never been more critical that a leader step forward to accelerate our understanding of cancer - and champion the effort to finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-dzau/it-has-never-been-more-critical-that-a-leader-step-forward-to/) Victor J. Dzau > [“It would seem no matter how progressive we get there are always those few who are backwards in their ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-nicole/it-would-seem-no-matter-how-progressive-we-get-there-are-always-those/) [Solange nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-nicole/) [Browse all 2,603 Defeat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We cannot defeat him. We can only buy you time... Twelve minutes... I can give you that”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rick Riordan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you-time-twelve-minutes-i-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defeat" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you-time-twelve-minutes-i-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/rick-riordan-27_defeat_we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you_221979.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/rick-riordan-27_defeat_we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you_221979.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/rick-riordan-27_defeat_we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you_221979.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We cannot defeat him. We can only buy you time... Twelve minutes... I can give you that” — Rick Riordan", "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": "Rick Riordan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We cannot defeat him. We can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you-time-twelve-minutes-i-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/we-cannot-defeat-him-we-can-only-buy-you-time-twelve-minutes-i-can/#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 } } ] } ```