--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man can learn all of an opponent's…" description: "\"“A man can learn all of an opponent's weaknesses on that board,' said Gilt. 'Really?' said Vetinari, raising his eyebrows. 'Should not he be trying to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/terry-pratchett-19_board-games_a-man-can-learn-all-of-an-opponent-s-wea_1176379.jpg" --- # A man can learn all of an opponent's weaknesses on that… ![“A man can learn all of an opponent's weaknesses on that board,' said Gilt. 'Really?' said Vetinari, raising his eyebrows. 'Should not he be trying to learn his own?” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/terry-pratchett-19_board-games_a-man-can-learn-all-of-an-opponent-s-wea_1176379.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/terry-pratchett-19_board-games_a-man-can-learn-all-of-an-opponent-s-wea_1176379.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/terry-pratchett-19_board-games_a-man-can-learn-all-of-an-opponent-s-wea_1176379.jpg) > ““A man can learn all of an opponent's weaknesses on that board,' said Gilt. 'Really?' said Vetinari, raising his eyebrows. 'Should not he be trying to learn his own?”” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding others' weaknesses reveals much, but self‑awareness is essential for growth. **In simple terms:** Know others, but know yourself better. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑knowledge. Themes self‑awareness strategy humor Mood wry thoughtful Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - board games - competitive sports - business negotiations - leadership training Key Concepts psychology game theory personal development Questions to Reflect On - What blind spots might you be ignoring? - How does self‑knowledge improve your strategy? A Different Perspective Self‑analysis can be harder than analyzing opponents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Board games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/board-games/) [Self analysis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-analysis/) ## Related quotes > [“I believe he collects different types of stationery,' said Vetinari. 'I have sometimes speculated that he might change his life for the better should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-believe-he-collects-different-types-of-stationery-said-vetinari-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [ “It was said that \[Vetinari\] would tolerate absolutely anything apart from anything that threatened the city\*... \[Footnote\] And mime artists. It was a strange… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-was-said-that-vetinari-would-tolerate-absolutely-anything-apart/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Peace?' said Vetinari. 'Ah, yes, defined as period of time to allow for preparation for the next war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/peace-said-vetinari-ah-yes-defined-as-period-of-time-to-allow-for/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You have to learn the opponent psychologically inside out and mental strength is one of the important makers. You're either gonna break it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/you-have-to-learn-the-opponent-psychologically-inside-out-and-mental/) [Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/) > [“My opponent . . . what is he going to do? In game theory analysis the followers of eighteenth-century statistician Thomas Bayes hold that the world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/my-opponent-what-is-he-going-to-do-in-game-theory-analysis-the/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [The beauty about boxing fights is that they offer lots of opportunity to really learn something about yourself and your opponent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pascal/the-beauty-about-boxing-fights-is-that-they-offer-lots-of-opportunity/) Jean Pascal > [Tennis is a battle of the minds, just as much as it is a battle of playing ability. Trying to expose your opponent's weaknesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-barker/tennis-is-a-battle-of-the-minds-just-as-much-as-it-is-a-battle-of/) [Sue Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-barker/) > [“It is not your opponent but your weaknesses that hurt you the most." -Apoorve Dubey”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apoorve-dubey/it-is-not-your-opponent-but-your-weaknesses-that-hurt-you-the-most/) [Apoorve Dubey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apoorve-dubey/) > [In randori, one must search out the opponent's weaknesses and be ready to attack with all the resources at his disposal the moment the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/in-randori-one-must-search-out-the-opponent-s-weaknesses-and-be-ready/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [It is not your opponent, but your weaknesses that hurts you most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apoorve-dubey/it-is-not-your-opponent-but-your-weaknesses-that-hurts-you-most/) [Apoorve Dubey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apoorve-dubey/) > [Daily self analysis fuel your target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin/daily-self-analysis-fuel-your-target/) [Kevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin/) > [By self-analysis you can not change your character, but you may change your mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-corbijn/by-self-analysis-you-can-not-change-your-character-but-you-may-change/) [Anton Corbijn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-corbijn/) > [We may find it difficult to put our hope into a situation that looks hopeless. But can put our hope into God who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santanu-mishra/we-may-find-it-difficult-to-put-our-hope-into-a-situation-that-looks/) [Santanu Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santanu-mishra/) > [Inward spiritual practices such as meditation, breathing techniques and self-analysis generate insights and enhance abilities, but none are so useful as learning to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/inward-spiritual-practices-such-as-meditation-breathing-techniques/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“introspection and self-analysis, a creative capacity, an ability to think under adverse circumstances, ethical behavior that assures avoiding acting out in the counter transference,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-f-kernberg/introspection-and-self-analysis-a-creative-capacity-an-ability-to/) [Otto F. Kernberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-f-kernberg/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Board games quotes > [My kids love little things like board games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-anstead/my-kids-love-little-things-like-board-games/) [Christina Anstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-anstead/) > [Oh, I'm nerdy about science fiction and fantasy and graphic novels and reading, and I'm nerdy about board games. My favorite board game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/oh-i-m-nerdy-about-science-fiction-and-fantasy-and-graphic-novels-and/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [“Programmer Chris Camfield was in charge of implementing the tactical layer battle mechanics. A lifelong player of pencil-and-paper role-playing games as well as strategy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/programmer-chris-camfield-was-in-charge-of-implementing-the-tactical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like board games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katya-zamolodchikova/i-don-t-like-board-games/) [Katya Zamolodchikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katya-zamolodchikova/) > [“Life is like a boardgame. Advancing forward is the key.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torron-lee-dewar/life-is-like-a-boardgame-advancing-forward-is-the-key/) [Torron-Lee Dewar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torron-lee-dewar/) > [Sure, I like to win when I play basketball or board games or video games, but my day isn't ruined if I lose. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-staton/sure-i-like-to-win-when-i-play-basketball-or-board-games-or-video/) [Aaron Staton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-staton/) > [The amount of times my wife has rolled her eyes at board games is impossible to count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/the-amount-of-times-my-wife-has-rolled-her-eyes-at-board-games-is/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [You don't have to be really good anymore to get good results. What's happening with Chess is that it's gradually losing its place as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-berliner/you-don-t-have-to-be-really-good-anymore-to-get-good-results-what-s/) Hans Berliner > [I didn't play or like a lot of board games as a child. I liked playing with my G.I. Joes and making up adventures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-didn-t-play-or-like-a-lot-of-board-games-as-a-child-i-liked-playing/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [My ideal beach house has bookshelves full of paperbacks that can tolerate a little sand, a DVD library that includes some Disney classics for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/my-ideal-beach-house-has-bookshelves-full-of-paperbacks-that-can/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [You have to start over. That's what they say. But life is not a board game, and losing a loved one is never really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/you-have-to-start-over-that-s-what-they-say-but-life-is-not-a-board/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I love all board games, actually, apart from backgammon. I can never remember the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hince/i-love-all-board-games-actually-apart-from-backgammon-i-can-never/) [Jamie Hince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hince/) > [I play a lot of board games, so you need to be quite good at strategy and poker faces so people can't always read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-herron/i-play-a-lot-of-board-games-so-you-need-to-be-quite-good-at-strategy/) [Kate Herron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-herron/) > [“Look, Mr. Cop. I’m going easy on you because I don’t think you’re trying to be discriminatory or a jerk about this. I’m normal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/look-mr-cop-i-m-going-easy-on-you-because-i-don-t-think-you-re-trying/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [The days of my youth I remember as nearly always in need of explanation, and not as much fun as advertised in the promotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/the-days-of-my-youth-i-remember-as-nearly-always-in-need-of/) [Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) [Browse all 76 Board games quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/board-games/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A man can learn all of an opponent's weaknesses on that board,' said Gilt. 'Really?' said Vetinari, raising his eyebrows. 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