--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know their game. First, the traders and…" description: "\"I know their game. First, the traders and the missionaries: then the ambassadors: then the cannon. It's better to go straight to the cannon.\" — Tewodro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/tewodros-ii-282142_ambassadors_i-know-their-game-first-the-traders-and_2317883.png" --- # I know their game. First, the traders and the… ![“I know their game. First, the traders and the missionaries: then the ambassadors: then the cannon. It's better to go straight to the cannon.” quote by Tewodros II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/tewodros-ii-282142_ambassadors_i-know-their-game-first-the-traders-and_2317883.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/tewodros-ii-282142_ambassadors_i-know-their-game-first-the-traders-and_2317883.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/tewodros-ii-282142_ambassadors_i-know-their-game-first-the-traders-and_2317883.png) > “I know their game. First, the traders and the missionaries: then the ambassadors: then the cannon. It's better to go straight to the cannon.” [Tewodros II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tewodros-ii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power structures evolve from traders to missionaries to ambassadors to military force; direct action may bypass intermediaries. **In simple terms:** Progress through influence stages. Key Takeaway Assess the most effective leverage point. Themes politics history strategy power Mood strategic critical Type Ambassadors:1 Cannons:1 Firsts:1 Gambling:0 Games:0 Knows:0 Traders:1 Know Game:0 Cannon Better:0 Traders Missionaries:0 Missionaries Ambassadors:0 Ambassadors Cannon:0 When to use this quote - business negotiations - social movements - personal advocacy Key Concepts colonialism diplomacy military action Questions to Reflect On - Which stage offers the most impact? - How can you navigate each phase? A Different Perspective Skipping steps may cause resistance or backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambassadors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambassadors/) [Ambassadors Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambassadors-cannon-5529556/) [Cannon Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannon-better-2415106/) [Cannons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannons/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Gambling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gambling/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Know Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-game/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Missionaries Ambassadors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missionaries-ambassadors-5529555/) [Traders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traders/) [Traders Missionaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traders-missionaries-5529554/) ## Related quotes > [Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. 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