--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hence the saying: If you know the enemy…" description: "\"Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and you know Earth, you may mak..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/sun-tzu-283_doubt_hence-the-saying-if-you-know-the-enemy-a_504978.jpg" --- # Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know… ![“Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and you know Earth, you may make your victory complete.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/sun-tzu-283_doubt_hence-the-saying-if-you-know-the-enemy-a_504978.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/sun-tzu-283_doubt_hence-the-saying-if-you-know-the-enemy-a_504978.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/sun-tzu-283_doubt_hence-the-saying-if-you-know-the-enemy-a_504978.jpg) > “Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and you know Earth, you may make your victory complete.” [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding both opponent and self eliminates uncertainty in conflict; grasping universal forces ensures comprehensive success. **In simple terms:** Know yourself, know the enemy, know the world. Key Takeaway Strategic insight leads to confident outcomes. Themes strategy self-awareness conflict holistic thinking Mood determined analytical Type strategic philosophical When to use this quote - business negotiations - military planning - personal decision making - team leadership Key Concepts Sun T military theory philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply self‑knowledge in a competitive market? - What universal factors might you be overlooking? A Different Perspective Assumes rational actors and clear information, which may not hold. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Know yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-yourself/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-you-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-your-victory-will-not-stand/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Know the enemy, know yourself; your victory will never be endangered. Know the ground, know the weather; your victory will then be total.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-the-enemy-know-yourself-your-victory-will-never-be-endangered/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never peril.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-in-a-hundred-battles-you-will-never/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Know the enemy and know yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-you-can-fight-a-hundred-battles/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-you-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-you-need-not-fear-the-result/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-you-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-you-need-not-fear-the-results/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-you-are-ignorant-of-the-enemy-but-know-yourself-your-chances-of/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-you-know-yourself-but-not-the-enemy-for-every-victory-gained-you/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Therefore I say: know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/therefore-i-say-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-in-a-hundred-battles/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-you-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-you-need-not-fear-the-result-2/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-d-sawyer/hence-the-saying-if-you-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-you-need-not/) [Ralph D. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-d-sawyer/) > [“At least with zombies I know my enemy and I know what to do: Aim and shoot. It's not so easy with people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/at-least-with-zombies-i-know-my-enemy-and-i-know-what-to-do-aim-and/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Know your enemy, know his sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/know-your-enemy-know-his-sword/) [Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/) > [“In the art of war, if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the approaching battles. But if you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/in-the-art-of-war-if-you-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-you-need/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) ## More by Sun Tzu > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/go-into-emptiness-strike-voids-bypass-what-he-defends-hit-him-where/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-a-similar-way-the-art-of-war-pinpoints-anger-and-greed-as/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The PEOPLE being regarded as the essential part of the State, and FOOD as the people's heaven, is it not right that those in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-people-being-regarded-as-the-essential-part-of-the-state-and-food/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/therefore-the-good-fighter-will-be-terrible-in-his-onset-and-prompt/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. 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The general who loses a battle makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-general-who-wins-a-battle-makes-many-calculations-in-his-temple/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-all-fighting-the-direct-method-may-be-used-for-joining-battle-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/to-begin-by-bluster-but-afterwards-to-take-fright-at-the-enemy-s/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [ They \[spies\] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/they-spies-cannot-be-properly-managed-without-benevolence-and/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) [Explore all 685 Sun Tzu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. 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On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. 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