--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The good fighters of old first put…" description: "\"The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/sun-tzu-283_able_the-good-fighters-of-old-first-put-thems_932832.jpg" --- # The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the… ![“The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus the good fighter is…” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/sun-tzu-283_able_the-good-fighters-of-old-first-put-thems_932832.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/sun-tzu-283_able_the-good-fighters-of-old-first-put-thems_932832.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/412/sun-tzu-283_able_the-good-fighters-of-old-first-put-thems_932832.jpg) > “The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.” [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. A skilled fighter prepares for defeat internally, but relies on the enemy's actions to create victory opportunities. **In simple terms:** Prepare yourself, wait for the enemy's mistake. Key Takeaway Cultivate resilience and patience. Themes strategy resilience patience Mood reflective strategic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - military planning - personal challenges - competitive sports Key Concepts self‑reliance enemy‑dependence Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑preparation with exploiting opponent errors? - When is waiting more powerful than attacking? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can blind one to the enemy's subtle moves. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art of war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-war/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Defeating the enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeating-the-enemy/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter/) [Good fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-fight/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Strategist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategist/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-strategy/) ## Related quotes > [The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-good-fighter-is-able-to-secure-himself-against-defeat-but-cannot/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. 4. Hence the saying: One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/thus-the-good-fighter-is-able-to-secure-himself-against-defeat-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/to-secure-ourselves-against-defeat-lies-in-our-own-hands-but-the/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-opportunity-to-secure-ourselves-against-defeat-lies-in-our-own/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-opportunity-to-secure-ourselves-against-defeat-lies-in-our-own-2/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-good-fighters-of-old-first-put-themselves-beyond-the-possibility-2/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/ultimate-excellence-lies-not-in-winning-every-battle-but-in-defeating/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Now in order to kill the enemy, our men must be roused to anger; that there may be advantage from defeating the enemy, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/now-in-order-to-kill-the-enemy-our-men-must-be-roused-to-anger-that/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/for-them-to-perceive-the-advantage-of-defeating-the-enemy-they-must/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-the-skillful-fighter-puts-himself-into-a-position-which-makes/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-opportunity-of-defeating-the-enemy-is-provided-by-the-enemy/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/sun-tzu-said-the-good-fighters-of-old-first-put-themselves-beyond-the/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/making-no-mistakes-is-what-establishes-the-certainty-of-victory-for/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Although we had no hope of defeating the enemy in the battlefield, nevertheless, we fought back to keep the idea of liberation alive. From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/although-we-had-no-hope-of-defeating-the-enemy-in-the-battlefield/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable-as-night/) [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. 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