--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you know neither the enemy nor…" description: "\"If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle\" — Sun Tzu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/sun-tzu-283_battle_if-you-know-neither-the-enemy-nor-yourse_1510820.jpg" --- # If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will… ![“If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/sun-tzu-283_battle_if-you-know-neither-the-enemy-nor-yourse_1510820.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/sun-tzu-283_battle_if-you-know-neither-the-enemy-nor-yourse_1510820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/sun-tzu-283_battle_if-you-know-neither-the-enemy-nor-yourse_1510820.jpg) > “If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle” [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. Knowing both yourself and your opponent is essential for success; ignorance leads to defeat. **In simple terms:** Self‑knowledge and enemy knowledge prevent loss. Key Takeaway Study yourself and your challenges before acting. Themes strategy self‑awareness conflict Mood analytical strategic Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - business competition - personal growth - sports matches Key Concepts military tactics psychology risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve self‑assessment? - What methods reveal opponent strengths? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge may be limited; enemies can be unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Succumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succumb/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/to-know-your-enemy-you-must-become-your-enemy/) [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/) > [If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-we-know-that-the-enemy-is-open-to-attack-but-are-unaware-that-our/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“(1) He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. (2) He will win who knows how to handle both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/1-he-will-win-who-knows-when-to-fight-and-when-not-to-fight-2-he-will/) [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/) > [If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-we-know-that-our-own-men-are-in-a-condition-to-attack-but-are/) [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 both yourself and your enemy, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-you-know-both-yourself-and-your-enemy-you-can-win-a-hundred/) [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/) > [Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-the-saying-if-you-know-the-enemy-and-you-know-yourself-your/) [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/) > [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/) ## 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. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“So long as victory can be attained,  stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/so-long-as-victory-can-be-attained-stupid-haste-is-preferable-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/you-can-ensure-the-safety-of-your-defense-if-you-only-hold-positions/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-when-able-to-attack-we-must-seem-unable-when-using-our-forces/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-we-do-not-wish-to-fight-we-can-prevent-the-enemy-from-engaging-us/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. 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 Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. 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He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. 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