--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you know yourself but not the enemy…" description: "\"If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.\" — Sun Tzu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/sun-tzu-283_defeat_if-you-know-yourself-but-not-the-enemy-f_2378962.jpg" --- # If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory… ![“If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/sun-tzu-283_defeat_if-you-know-yourself-but-not-the-enemy-f_2378962.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/sun-tzu-283_defeat_if-you-know-yourself-but-not-the-enemy-f_2378962.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/sun-tzu-283_defeat_if-you-know-yourself-but-not-the-enemy-f_2378962.jpg) > “If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.” [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 yourself and your enemy is essential; neglecting either leads to loss despite victories. **In simple terms:** Self‑knowledge and awareness of opponents are crucial. Key Takeaway Balance self‑awareness with strategic insight. Themes strategy self‑knowledge conflict Mood analytical strategic Type military philosophical When to use this quote - business competition - personal relationships - political campaigns Key Concepts Military theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - What blind spots might you have? - How can you improve self‑awareness? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on the enemy can cause paranoia. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Know yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-yourself/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“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/anonymous/if-you-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-you-need-not-fear-the-result-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [“(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 yourself but not your enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. - Teddy Sumner”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-pearson/if-you-know-yourself-but-not-your-enemy-for-every-victory-gained-you/) [Ridley Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-pearson/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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. 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The essence of the creative life, however, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/you-will-pass-through-storms-and-heavy-rains-and-at-times-you-will/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [“If a man feared defeat, he would never give battle... Every victory is inevitably succeeded by defeat. It is the nature of our lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ruckley/if-a-man-feared-defeat-he-would-never-give-battle-every-victory-is/) [Brian Ruckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ruckley/) > [The way I suffer after a defeat is not for all, because I suffer. I suffer. But those who know me know that, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-conte/the-way-i-suffer-after-a-defeat-is-not-for-all-because-i-suffer-i/) [Antonio Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-conte/) > [“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 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/) ## 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 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. 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