--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble…" description: "\"When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but continues his preparations, he will advance. When their language is deceptive but the enemy pretent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/sun-tzu-283_advantage_when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble_2599779.jpg" --- # When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but… ![“When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but continues his preparations, he will advance. When their language is deceptive but the enemy pretentiously advances, he will retreat. When the envoys speak in apologetic terms, he wishes a respite. When without a previous understanding the enemy…” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/sun-tzu-283_advantage_when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble_2599779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/sun-tzu-283_advantage_when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble_2599779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/sun-tzu-283_advantage_when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble_2599779.jpg) > “When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but continues his preparations, he will advance. When their language is deceptive but the enemy pretentiously advances, he will retreat. When the envoys speak in apologetic terms, he wishes a respite. When without a previous understanding the enemy asks for a truce, he is plotting. When the enemy sees an advantage but does not advance to seize it, he is fatigued.” [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. Reading enemy communications reveals intent; deceptive language signals hidden plans, while inaction may indicate fatigue. **In simple terms:** Watch words and actions to gauge enemy motives. Key Takeaway Analyze signals before reacting. Themes strategy deception intelligence decision‑making Mood cautious analytical Type strategic instructive When to use this quote - diplomacy - negotiations - battlefield - political strategy Key Concepts military tactics psychology of conflict Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify true intentions beyond words? - When should you trust intuition over analysis? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on signals can mislead; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Apologetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologetic/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art of war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-war/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Asks Truce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks-truce-1933675/) [Deceptive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceptive/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-asks-1933673/) [Enemy Envoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-envoy-1933671/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) [Respite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respite/) [Retreat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreat/) [Retreat Envoys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreat-envoys-1933672/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Apologetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-apologetic-1933674/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Truce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truce/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [It is utterly exhausting being Black in America - physically, mentally, and emotionally. While many minority groups and women feel similar stress, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-utterly-exhausting-being-black-in-america-physically-mentally/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [I pray the gods some respite from the weary task of this long year's watch that lying on the Atreidae's roof on bended arm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/i-pray-the-gods-some-respite-from-the-weary-task-of-this-long-year-s/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Oh, injurious love, that respites me a life, whose very comfort is still a dying horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/oh-injurious-love-that-respites-me-a-life-whose-very-comfort-is-still/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There have been days when I sought respite from my life, only to find myself calling every hour to check on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/there-have-been-days-when-i-sought-respite-from-my-life-only-to-find/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“A new story begins the moment an old one ends. But a denouement is a respite that calls us to stop the journey for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/a-new-story-begins-the-moment-an-old-one-ends-but-a-denouement-is-a/) [Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/) > [- and how time flies! What, has it already been twenty years, already forty years that we are together? Why, how terrible! We haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-how-time-flies-what-has-it-already-been-twenty-years-already/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Night is real. Night is not an absence of light, but in fact, it is daytime that is a brief respite from the looming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/night-is-real-night-is-not-an-absence-of-light-but-in-fact-it-is/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [Poetry affords us a respite in which we may gather renewed strength for the old struggle to adapt ourselves to reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-haven-schauffler/poetry-affords-us-a-respite-in-which-we-may-gather-renewed-strength/) [Robert Haven Schauffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-haven-schauffler/) > [Now the same mystery which often veils from our eyes the reason for a catastrophe envelops just as frequently, when love is in question,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/now-the-same-mystery-which-often-veils-from-our-eyes-the-reason-for-a/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Love is an incurable malady like those pathetic states in which rheumatism affords the sufferer a brief respite only to be replaced by epileptiform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/love-is-an-incurable-malady-like-those-pathetic-states-in-which/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [It is this subtle dimension of understanding that marks the southwestern Indian peoples from other religions and separates tribal peoples from the world's religions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/it-is-this-subtle-dimension-of-understanding-that-marks-the/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [I believe that love that is true and real creates a respite from death. All cowardice comes from not loving, or not loving well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-believe-that-love-that-is-true-and-real-creates-a-respite-from/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [For the first time in a long time I thought about Maman. I felt as if I understood why at the end of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/for-the-first-time-in-a-long-time-i-thought-about-maman-i-felt-as-if/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The king lifted a hand to her cheek and kissed her. It was not a kiss between strangers, not even a kiss between a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/the-king-lifted-a-hand-to-her-cheek-and-kissed-her-it-was-not-a-kiss/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [Those who sell their liberty for security are understandable, if pitiable, creatures. Those who sell the liberty of others for wealth, power, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/those-who-sell-their-liberty-for-security-are-understandable-if/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) ## 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 Advantage quotes > [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [All I ever wanted was an unfair advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/all-i-ever-wanted-was-an-unfair-advantage/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I was born with a silver microphone in my mouth, and that was an advantage. My father wrote books and was also a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/i-was-born-with-a-silver-microphone-in-my-mouth-and-that-was-an/) [Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/) > [Like funny men, skilled diners are apparently perceived to have an evolutionary advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/like-funny-men-skilled-diners-are-apparently-perceived-to-have-an/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [For some reason when I decide to pursue something, I never have any fear that it won't happen. I think it's just ingrained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-blatz/for-some-reason-when-i-decide-to-pursue-something-i-never-have-any/) [Kelly Blatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-blatz/) > [I think I have good hands, so I try to use them to my advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/i-think-i-have-good-hands-so-i-try-to-use-them-to-my-advantage/) [Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I always tell women that the fact that you're different and that you're noticed, because there are few of us in the tech industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/i-always-tell-women-that-the-fact-that-you-re-different-and-that-you/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) [Browse all 3,503 Advantage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but continues his preparations, he will advance. When their language is deceptive but the enemy pretentiously advances, he will retreat. When the envoys speak in apologetic terms, he wishes a respite. When without a previous understanding the enemy asks for a truce, he is plotting. When the enemy sees an advantage but does not advance to seize it, he is fatigued.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sun Tzu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble-terms-but-continues-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advantage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble-terms-but-continues-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/sun-tzu-283_advantage_when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble_2599779.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/sun-tzu-283_advantage_when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble_2599779.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/sun-tzu-283_advantage_when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble_2599779.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but continues his preparations, he will advance. When their…” — 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": "When the enemy's envoy's speak in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble-terms-but-continues-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-the-enemy-s-envoy-s-speak-in-humble-terms-but-continues-his/#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 } } ] } ```