--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Therefore the good fighter will be…" description: "\"Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.\" — Sun Tzu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/sun-tzu-283_art_therefore-the-good-fighter-will-be-terri_21606.jpg" --- # Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset… ![“Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/sun-tzu-283_art_therefore-the-good-fighter-will-be-terri_21606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/sun-tzu-283_art_therefore-the-good-fighter-will-be-terri_21606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/sun-tzu-283_art_therefore-the-good-fighter-will-be-terri_21606.jpg) > “Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.” [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. Effective combat requires a rough, unrefined start but swift, decisive action once momentum builds. **In simple terms:** Start rough, act fast. Key Takeaway Early chaos can lead to decisive victory. Themes strategy discipline timing adaptability efficiency Mood determined focused Type maxist tactical When to use this quote - battlefield initiation - sports competition - business negotiations - emergency response Key Concepts initiative decisionmaking Practical Applications - military training - leadership coaching Questions to Reflect On - How does initial disorder affect outcomes? - When is rapid decision‑critical? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art of war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-war/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter/) [Good fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-fight/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [“The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim. Therefore the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-quality-of-decision-is-like-the-well-timed-swoop-of-a-falcon-2/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [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/) > [The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-good-fighters-of-old-first-put-themselves-beyond-the-possibility/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become, as it were, like rolling logs or stones... The energy developed by good fighting men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-he-utilizes-combined-energy-his-fighting-men-become-as-it-were-2/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If you're a good fighter on the street, you don't have to tell anybody that you're good at fighting. Let someone else talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-landry-jones/if-you-re-a-good-fighter-on-the-street-you-don-t-have-to-tell-anybody/) [Caleb Landry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-landry-jones/) > [My ambition is not to be just a good fighter. I want to be great, something special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/my-ambition-is-not-to-be-just-a-good-fighter-i-want-to-be-great/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I know Haye's a good fighter as well and he beat Mormeck but Mormeck is not Enzo Maccarinelli and does not have the speed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/i-know-haye-s-a-good-fighter-as-well-and-he-beat-mormeck-but-mormeck/) [Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/) > [Klitschko has had a good career. A lot of his fights have been out of the country as though he hasn't even been invited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/klitschko-has-had-a-good-career-a-lot-of-his-fights-have-been-out-of/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [“Only in christanity that people that fall remain on the ground. 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He is a good, good fighter, especially when he fights an aggressive opponent like Manny Pacquiao.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-arum/nobody-can-count-shane-mosley-out-he-is-a-good-good-fighter/) [Bob Arum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-arum/) > [He's an old good fighter, he's an intelligent fighter but I wouldn't say he's the best I've ever fought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/he-s-an-old-good-fighter-he-s-an-intelligent-fighter-but-i-wouldn-t/) [Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/) > [I've got the title shot against a really good fighter in Dominick Reyes. He made a really good fight against Jon Jones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-blachowicz/i-ve-got-the-title-shot-against-a-really-good-fighter-in-dominick/) [Jan Blachowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-blachowicz/) > [Fighting is pure chaos, and to be a good fighter you simply have to be prepared mentally and physically to handle that chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-penn-2/fighting-is-pure-chaos-and-to-be-a-good-fighter-you-simply-have-to-be/) [B.J. Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-penn-2/) ## 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/) > [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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