--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Always assume your opponent to be smarter…" description: "\"Always assume your opponent to be smarter than you.\" — Walther Rathenau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/walther-rathenau-44497_assume_always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarte_2912956.jpg" --- # Always assume your opponent to be smarter than you. ![“Always assume your opponent to be smarter than you.” quote by Walther Rathenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/walther-rathenau-44497_assume_always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarte_2912956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/walther-rathenau-44497_assume_always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarte_2912956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/walther-rathenau-44497_assume_always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarte_2912956.jpg) > “Always assume your opponent to be smarter than you.” [Walther Rathenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognize that others may have superior insight, prompting humility and better preparation. **In simple terms:** Expect others to be smarter. Key Takeaway Plan with humility and seek counsel. Themes humility strategy learning Mood cautious reflective Type advisory strategic When to use this quote - negotiations - business competition - team collaborations - conflict resolution Key Concepts cognitive bias adversarial thinking critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify your assumptions? - When might you trust your own judgment? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can still lead to underestimating simple facts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) ## Related quotes > [Always assume that your opponent is going to be bigger, stronger and faster than you; so that you learn to rely on technique, timing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helio-gracie/always-assume-that-your-opponent-is-going-to-be-bigger-stronger-and/) [Helio Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helio-gracie/) > [“Dealing with one who feels smarter than you, let him assume that you ain't smarter than him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/dealing-with-one-who-feels-smarter-than-you-let-him-assume-that-you/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [I take my sport damned seriously. Basketball is my life. There are other people who go into important games as if they were any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-take-my-sport-damned-seriously-basketball-is-my-life-there-are/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [My toughest opponent has always been me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/my-toughest-opponent-has-always-been-me/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [When you go out on the court whether it be for the championship or just a scrimmage, have confidence that your abilities and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-pettit/when-you-go-out-on-the-court-whether-it-be-for-the-championship-or/) Bob Pettit > [Some people think that if their opponent plays a beautiful game, it's OK to lose. I don't. You have to be merciless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/some-people-think-that-if-their-opponent-plays-a-beautiful-game-it-s/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [I never fear my opponent, for me he only represents a new challenge to conquer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyoto-machida/i-never-fear-my-opponent-for-me-he-only-represents-a-new-challenge-to/) [Lyoto Machida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyoto-machida/) > [The more you attack, the more your opponent will make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo-garcia/the-more-you-attack-the-more-your-opponent-will-make-mistakes/) [Marcelo Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo-garcia/) > [I'm not scared of any opponent. I fight who I want to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/i-m-not-scared-of-any-opponent-i-fight-who-i-want-to-fight/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [My opponent is Short and the match will be short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/my-opponent-is-short-and-the-match-will-be-short/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Fire only at close range, and only when your opponent is properly in your sights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-boelcke/fire-only-at-close-range-and-only-when-your-opponent-is-properly-in/) [Oswald Boelcke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-boelcke/) > [If your opponent is playing several shots in vain attempts to extricate himself from a bunker, do not stand near him and audibly count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-vardon/if-your-opponent-is-playing-several-shots-in-vain-attempts-to/) [Harry Vardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-vardon/) > [One of the objectives of opening play is to try to surprise your opponent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmar-mednis/one-of-the-objectives-of-opening-play-is-to-try-to-surprise-your/) [Edmar Mednis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmar-mednis/) > [Lack of fairness to an opponent is essentially a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/lack-of-fairness-to-an-opponent-is-essentially-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [A Warrior of Light never resorts to trickery, but he knows how to distract his opponent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-warrior-of-light-never-resorts-to-trickery-but-he-knows-how-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More by Walther Rathenau > [Three hundred men, all of whom know one another, direct the economic destiny of Europe and choose their successors from among themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/three-hundred-men-all-of-whom-know-one-another-direct-the-economic/) [Walther Rathenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/) > [We are not here for the sake of possessions, or of power. Or of happiness, but we are here to transfigure the divine out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/we-are-not-here-for-the-sake-of-possessions-or-of-power-or-of/) [Walther Rathenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/) > [Three hundred men, each of whom knows all the other, govern the fate of the European continent, and they elect their successors from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/three-hundred-men-each-of-whom-knows-all-the-other-govern-the-fate-of/) [Walther Rathenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/) > [In 1902 I left the A.E.G. in order to enter finance. I joined the management of one of our big banks, the Berliner Handelsge-Sellschaft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/in-1902-i-left-the-a-e-g-in-order-to-enter-finance-i-joined-the/) [Walther Rathenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/) > [Truth is inner harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/truth-is-inner-harmony/) [Walther Rathenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/) > [Three hundred men, who all know each other direct the economic destinies of the Continent and they look for successors among their friends and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/three-hundred-men-who-all-know-each-other-direct-the-economic/) [Walther Rathenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/) > [A man must be strong enough to mold the peculiarity of his imperfections into the perfection of his peculiarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/a-man-must-be-strong-enough-to-mold-the-peculiarity-of-his/) [Walther Rathenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/) > [There in the midst of German life is an alien and isolated race of men. Loud and self-conscious in their dress, hot-blooded and restless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/there-in-the-midst-of-german-life-is-an-alien-and-isolated-race-of/) [Walther Rathenau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/) [Explore all 9 Walther Rathenau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/) ## More Assume quotes > [We only call at ducks when their rear ends are towards us. If I'm looking at you and you call my name, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jase-robertson/we-only-call-at-ducks-when-their-rear-ends-are-towards-us-if-i-m/) [Jase Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jase-robertson/) > [Nobody really knows everything, and they can only assume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/nobody-really-knows-everything-and-they-can-only-assume/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [Partisanship is our great curse. 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Why not have a separate holiday for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/let-s-assume-for-the-moment-that-the-logic-behind-presidents-day-is/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [I think a lot of fans immediately go, 'ugggh' when they hear that someone is doing a prequel or a remake, they sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/i-think-a-lot-of-fans-immediately-go-ugggh-when-they-hear-that/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [You can never assume that something is going to do well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/you-can-never-assume-that-something-is-going-to-do-well/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [What we assume, what we have never clearly thought out, controls us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-t-kelsey/what-we-assume-what-we-have-never-clearly-thought-out-controls-us/) [Morton T. Kelsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morton-t-kelsey/) > [Do not always assume the other fellow has intelligence equal to yours. He may have more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-thomas/do-not-always-assume-the-other-fellow-has-intelligence-equal-to-yours/) Terry-Thomas > [Americans assume all British people have at least one servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/americans-assume-all-british-people-have-at-least-one-servant/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [It is a mistake to assume that if everybody does his job, it will be all right. The whole system may be in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-a-mistake-to-assume-that-if-everybody-does-his-job-it-will-be/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [ If \[Barack\] Obama or the boss or the newspapers or anyone else tells you they're doing this, that, or the other thing, dismiss it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-barack-obama-or-the-boss-or-the-newspapers-or-anyone-else-tells/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) Browse all 542 Assume quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Always assume your opponent to be smarter than you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walther Rathenau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarter-than-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assume" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarter-than-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/walther-rathenau-44497_assume_always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarte_2912956.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/walther-rathenau-44497_assume_always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarte_2912956.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/walther-rathenau-44497_assume_always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarte_2912956.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Always assume your opponent to be smarter than you.” — Walther Rathenau", "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": "Walther Rathenau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walther-rathenau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Always assume your opponent to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarter-than-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walther-rathenau/always-assume-your-opponent-to-be-smarter-than-you/#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 } } ] } ```