--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thus the good fighter is able to secure…" description: "\"“Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. 4. Hence the saying: One may know how ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/sun-tzu-283_defeating-the-enemy_thus-the-good-fighter-is-able-to-secure_2048303.jpg" --- # Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against… ![“Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. 4. Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/sun-tzu-283_defeating-the-enemy_thus-the-good-fighter-is-able-to-secure_2048303.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/sun-tzu-283_defeating-the-enemy_thus-the-good-fighter-is-able-to-secure_2048303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/sun-tzu-283_defeating-the-enemy_thus-the-good-fighter-is-able-to-secure_2048303.jpg) > ““Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. 4. Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.”” [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 combatant can avoid defeat but cannot guarantee victory; knowing tactics doesn’t ensure success. **In simple terms:** Skill prevents loss but doesn’t assure win. Key Takeaway Focus on preparation, not certainty. Themes strategy uncertainty skill combat knowledge Mood strategic philosophical Type military motivational When to use this quote - military planning - business competition - sports coaching Key Concepts probability risk management psychology of war Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance confidence with humility? - When should you adapt strategy mid‑conflict? A Different Perspective Even the best plans can fail against unknown factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [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/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“Men of outstanding ability are more likely to lack the power of controlling their own people than of defeating an enemy in battle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/titus-livius/men-of-outstanding-ability-are-more-likely-to-lack-the-power-of/) Titus Livius > [For what we do training, as a fighter, you have to be able to flip that switch where you turn into that savage, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/for-what-we-do-training-as-a-fighter-you-have-to-be-able-to-flip-that/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [“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/) ## 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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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 Defeating quotes > [It is a principle of the art of war that one should simply lay down his life and strike. If one's opponent also does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/it-is-a-principle-of-the-art-of-war-that-one-should-simply-lay-down/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [In opposing Communism, we are defeating ourselves if we use methods that do not conform to the American sense of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/in-opposing-communism-we-are-defeating-ourselves-if-we-use-methods/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I witnessed first-hand the self-defeating results of putting yourself under so much pressure to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananya-birla/i-witnessed-first-hand-the-self-defeating-results-of-putting-yourself/) [Ananya Birla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananya-birla/) > [“He was always running or bounding, never just walking. He seemed always at the point of defeating the law of gravity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/he-was-always-running-or-bounding-never-just-walking-he-seemed-always/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [The IDF is advancing on the road to defeating Hamas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/the-idf-is-advancing-on-the-road-to-defeating-hamas/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [Retarding the aging process would be therapy and enhancement because it would mean defeating diseases and because it would extend our life span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-stock/retarding-the-aging-process-would-be-therapy-and-enhancement-because/) [Gregory Stock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-stock/) > [“Defeating death is the best skill of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/defeating-death-is-the-best-skill-of-all/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [If you do a full-on workout and then eat McDonald's or Wendy's, you're defeating the purpose. If you put good things into your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/if-you-do-a-full-on-workout-and-then-eat-mcdonald-s-or-wendy-s-you-re/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [Approach the enemy with the attitude of defeating him without delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/approach-the-enemy-with-the-attitude-of-defeating-him-without-delay/) [Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/) > [Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow...they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/those-who-are-victorious-plan-effectively-and-change-decisively-they/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Are the odds you face (in life) defeating or motivating you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boudia/are-the-odds-you-face-in-life-defeating-or-motivating-you/) [David Boudia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boudia/) > [Sometimes standing against evil is more important than defeating it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/sometimes-standing-against-evil-is-more-important-than-defeating-it-2/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [There is something self-defeating in the too-conscious pursuit of pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/there-is-something-self-defeating-in-the-too-conscious-pursuit-of/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [Since ancient times, philosophers have maintained that to strive too hard for one's own happiness is self-defeating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/since-ancient-times-philosophers-have-maintained-that-to-strive-too/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Hollywood continues to present the U.S. Army as being the good guys, always defeating the aliens or foreigners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/hollywood-continues-to-present-the-u-s-army-as-being-the-good-guys/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) Browse all 56 Defeating quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. 4. 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