--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Know your enemy and know yourself and you…" description: "\"Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.\" — Sun Tzu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/sun-tzu-283_battles_know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-yo_812811.jpg" --- # Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a… ![“Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/sun-tzu-283_battles_know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-yo_812811.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/sun-tzu-283_battles_know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-yo_812811.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/sun-tzu-283_battles_know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-yo_812811.jpg) > “Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.” [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 your opponent and yourself ensures strategic advantage and avoids costly mistakes. **In simple terms:** Know both sides to win. Key Takeaway Study yourself and rivals thoroughly. Themes strategy self-awareness conflict preparation knowledge Mood strategic pragmatic Type military business When to use this quote - military planning - business competition - personal development - negotiation Key Concepts Psychology risk assessment intelligence gathering Questions to Reflect On - What blind spots might you have about yourself? - How can you improve intelligence on competitors? A Different Perspective Neglecting self-knowledge can lead to overconfidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battles/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [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 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/) > [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, 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/) > [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/) > [“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 and know yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself/) [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. 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/) > [“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 your enemy and yourself.1 Know how to make your enemy a friend and make yourself better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-bailey/know-your-enemy-and-yourself-1-know-how-to-make-your-enemy-a-friend/) [Joseph J. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-bailey/) > [“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/) > [If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles. -Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/call-of-duty/if-you-know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself-you-need-not-fear-the-results-2/) Call Of Duty ## 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 Battles quotes > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [In Raleigh, partisan battles, power struggles and lawsuits might grab the headlines, but we have to work together where we can. To look beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/in-raleigh-partisan-battles-power-struggles-and-lawsuits-might-grab/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [War is not beautiful. Sometimes you see action sequences where battles seem organized. I know that from how the Vikings fought. It's not beautiful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristofer-hivju/war-is-not-beautiful-sometimes-you-see-action-sequences-where-battles/) [Kristofer Hivju](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristofer-hivju/) > [All battles have some use, including those in which we were defeated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/all-battles-have-some-use-including-those-in-which-we-were-defeated/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [No one is perfect. No one's life is perfect. From the outside looking in, you'll never know. We all have our own battles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-is-perfect-no-one-s-life-is-perfect-from-the-outside-looking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“May God fight our battles for us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/may-god-fight-our-battles-for-us/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [For me, I think one of the biggest battles is mentally. You have good days, and you have bad days. Randomly, you'll feel good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/for-me-i-think-one-of-the-biggest-battles-is-mentally-you-have-good/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [All the battles I have had with Felix since the first time back in 2018 have had drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-rublev/all-the-battles-i-have-had-with-felix-since-the-first-time-back-in/) [Andrey Rublev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-rublev/) > [I bear the wounds of all the battles I avoided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/i-bear-the-wounds-of-all-the-battles-i-avoided/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [I'm a wrestler with nine toes. I'm a wrestler who has been through a lot of battles. I get to do a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rulon-gardner/i-m-a-wrestler-with-nine-toes-i-m-a-wrestler-who-has-been-through-a/) [Rulon Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rulon-gardner/) > [A person of knowledge and power never goes out looking for battles. All their battles are within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-person-of-knowledge-and-power-never-goes-out-looking-for-battles/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Over the years, I've fought a number of polemical battles against ideas that threaten the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/over-the-years-i-ve-fought-a-number-of-polemical-battles-against/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [There are more battles won through prayer than by any other means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-smith/there-are-more-battles-won-through-prayer-than-by-any-other-means/) [Chuck Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-smith/) > [Its not you to fight the spiritual battles, the one who's the spirit is standing like a might warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meekness-tapera/its-not-you-to-fight-the-spiritual-battles-the-one-who-s-the-spirit/) [Meekness Tapera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meekness-tapera/) > [“Make your enemies bleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-f-hashimi/make-your-enemies-bleed/) Omar F. Hashimi [Browse all 451 Battles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sun Tzu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-you-can-fight-a-hundred-battles/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-you-can-fight-a-hundred-battles/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/sun-tzu-283_battles_know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-yo_812811.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/sun-tzu-283_battles_know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-yo_812811.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/sun-tzu-283_battles_know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-yo_812811.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.” — Sun Tzu", "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": "Sun Tzu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Know your enemy and know yourself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-you-can-fight-a-hundred-battles/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-your-enemy-and-know-yourself-and-you-can-fight-a-hundred-battles/#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 } } ] } ```