---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes an opponent stops breathing…"
description: "\"Sometimes an opponent stops breathing, and you realise something drastic has happened and they are trying not to let on. Or they go quiet, or they get ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/viswanathan-anand-9268_after_sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-an_3188532.png"
---

#  Sometimes an opponent stops breathing, and you realise…

![“Sometimes an opponent stops breathing, and you realise something drastic has happened and they are trying not to let on. Or they go quiet, or they get fidgety. After a while you pick these things up and become more alert to them.” quote by Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/viswanathan-anand-9268_after_sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-an_3188532.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/viswanathan-anand-9268_after_sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-an_3188532.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/viswanathan-anand-9268_after_sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-an_3188532.png)

> “Sometimes an opponent stops breathing, and you realise something drastic has happened and they are trying not to let on. Or they go quiet, or they get fidgety. After a while you pick these things up and become more alert to them.”

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Observing subtle opponent cues—breathing, silence, fidgeting—signals critical moments and heightens vigilance.

**In simple terms:** Watch opponent’s tiny signals for strategic advantage.

Key Takeaway

Use non‑verbal cues to anticipate opponent moves.

Themes

observation strategy psychology focus

Mood

analytical alert strategic

Type

instructional observational

When to use this quote

- competitive sports
- business negotiations
- public speaking
- security monitoring
- emergency response

Key Concepts

non‑verbal communication situational awareness risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- Which cue is most reliable?
- How do you balance intuition with analysis?

A Different Perspective

Relying on subtle cues can lead to misinterpretation under stress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[After](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/) [Alert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alert/) [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Breathing Realise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing-realise-5872320/) [Drastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drastic/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Opponent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponent/) [Opponent Stops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponent-stops-5872319/) [Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick/) [Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet/) [Realise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realise/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Stops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stops/) [Stops Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stops-breathing-2542425/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [While](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/while/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [When your child stops breathing 60 times a night, you don't worry about what's going on next year or even next week. You put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/when-your-child-stops-breathing-60-times-a-night-you-don-t-worry/)

[John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/)

> [“When a person is clubbed violently on the head, he collapses and stops breathing. Some day, he will stop breathing anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/when-a-person-is-clubbed-violently-on-the-head-he-collapses-and-stops/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [It's a dangerous world, man. You've gotta keep your eyes and ears peeled and be on the alert all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-paul/it-s-a-dangerous-world-man-you-ve-gotta-keep-your-eyes-and-ears/)

[Vinnie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-paul/)

> [“Alert fatigue is the single biggest problem we have right now…We need to be more intelligent about our alerts or we’ll all go insane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/alert-fatigue-is-the-single-biggest-problem-we-have-right-now-we-need/)

[Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/)

> [“When the risk level becomes too high in the presence of armed police officers, you need to start shouting as loud as you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-the-risk-level-becomes-too-high-in-the-presence-of-armed-police/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [I like to see the people awake and alert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-like-to-see-the-people-awake-and-alert/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“If you are presently facing significant challenges in your life, trust in the Lord! Be an aggressive responder who lives with alert expectancy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-blackaby/if-you-are-presently-facing-significant-challenges-in-your-life-trust/)

[Richard Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-blackaby/)

> [“Leaders don't venture without vision. They don't pray without plans. They don't climb without clues. They are always prepared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leaders-don-t-venture-without-vision-they-don-t-pray-without-plans/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [...He palmed up the life Alert. Death Alert was more like it: Help, I haven't fallen and I'm standing up-can you come and rectify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/he-palmed-up-the-life-alert-death-alert-was-more-like-it-help-i-haven/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

> [There is, to be sure, sometimes only a small difference between being alert to possible danger and allowing oneself to become terrified to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/there-is-to-be-sure-sometimes-only-a-small-difference-between-being/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [Nothing is worth reading that does not require an alert mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/nothing-is-worth-reading-that-does-not-require-an-alert-mind/)

[Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/)

> [“Those who have been in trouble themselves are alert to it in others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/those-who-have-been-in-trouble-themselves-are-alert-to-it-in-others/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [I ride my bike almost every day here in New York. It's getting safer to do so, but I do have to be fairly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-ride-my-bike-almost-every-day-here-in-new-york-it-s-getting-safer/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [NBC News found that FEMA has redrawn maps even for properties that have repeatedly filed claims for flood losses from previous storms. At least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/nbc-news-found-that-fema-has-redrawn-maps-even-for-properties-that/)

[Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/)

> [You will not get a Google alert when you fall in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/you-will-not-get-a-google-alert-when-you-fall-in-love/)

[Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/)

## More by Viswanathan Anand

> [My parents were very supportive of my chess. When I got home after a game of chess, having missed school or something, they always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/my-parents-were-very-supportive-of-my-chess-when-i-got-home-after-a/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [Preparedness for a game that usually lasts four-five hours requires good physical condition and also steady nerves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/preparedness-for-a-game-that-usually-lasts-four-five-hours-requires/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [I would never suggest to anyone that they drop school for chess. First of all even if you can make it in chess, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/i-would-never-suggest-to-anyone-that-they-drop-school-for-chess-first/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [Just before a game, I try to keep a clear mind so that I can focus better. I'm the kind of person who plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/just-before-a-game-i-try-to-keep-a-clear-mind-so-that-i-can-focus/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [You need to motivate yourself, no matter what-definitely when things are bad, but also when things are good. Or else, you risk becoming complacent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/you-need-to-motivate-yourself-no-matter-what-definitely-when-things/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [Each match I approach like a new one. The work is so immense that you don't have time to sit and ponder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/each-match-i-approach-like-a-new-one-the-work-is-so-immense-that-you/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [For me, chess is not a profession, it is a way of life, a passion. People may feel that I have conquered the peak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/for-me-chess-is-not-a-profession-it-is-a-way-of-life-a-passion-people/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [Before a game, I avoid having a heavy meal so that I don't feel sleepy at the board. You eat to be healthy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/before-a-game-i-avoid-having-a-heavy-meal-so-that-i-don-t-feel-sleepy/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [I personally prefer long-distance walking, but we are talking about pre-tournament preparation. During a tournament I make do with walking, mainly to concentrate before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/i-personally-prefer-long-distance-walking-but-we-are-talking-about/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [Confidence is very important - even pretending to be Confident. If you make a Mistake but do not let your Opponent see what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/confidence-is-very-important-even-pretending-to-be-confident-if-you/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [I feel that schools and corporates should help the government in popularising sports in the country. Blaming the government for every sporting debacle will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/i-feel-that-schools-and-corporates-should-help-the-government-in/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [I was reasonably interested in mathematics in school. Typically what happens is... when you start playing chess, it takes up a lot of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/i-was-reasonably-interested-in-mathematics-in-school-typically-what/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [Chess has given me a lot more than I could ask for. I have been able to feel special, travel the world and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/chess-has-given-me-a-lot-more-than-i-could-ask-for-i-have-been-able/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [Parents, first and foremost, it is important to... understand and recognise the activities your child is naturally gravitating towards. It's important also to ensure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/parents-first-and-foremost-it-is-important-to-understand-and/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

> [Intuition in chess can be defined as the first move that comes to mind when you see a position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/intuition-in-chess-can-be-defined-as-the-first-move-that-comes-to/)

[Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

[Explore all 74 Viswanathan Anand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/)

## More After quotes

> [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/)

[Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/)

> [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/)

[Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/)

> [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/)

[Deke Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deke-richards/)

> [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/)

[Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/)

> [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/)

[Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/)

> [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/)

[Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/)

> [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/)

[John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/)

> [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/)

[Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/)

> [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/)

[James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/)

> [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/)

[Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/)

> [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/)

[Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/)

> [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/)

[Bert Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-lahr/)

> [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/)

[Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/)

> [I'd like an omelet named after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/i-d-like-an-omelet-named-after-me/)

[Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/)

[Browse all 3,411 After quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Sometimes an opponent stops breathing, and you realise something drastic has happened and they are trying not to let on. Or they go quiet, or they get fidgety. After a while you pick these things up and become more alert to them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Viswanathan Anand"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-and-you-realise-something/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "After"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-and-you-realise-something/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/viswanathan-anand-9268_after_sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-an_3188532.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/viswanathan-anand-9268_after_sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-an_3188532.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8c/viswanathan-anand-9268_after_sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-an_3188532.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sometimes an opponent stops breathing, and you realise something drastic has happened and they are trying…” — Viswanathan Anand",
                "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": "Viswanathan Anand",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Sometimes an opponent stops breathing, and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-and-you-realise-something/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/sometimes-an-opponent-stops-breathing-and-you-realise-something/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
