Men are always more inclined to pitch their estimate of the enemy's strength too high than too low, such is human nature.
Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Humans naturally overestimate enemy strength rather than underestimate it.
- In plain terms
- We tend to think enemies are stronger than they are.
- What can you take from it?
- Account for natural bias when assessing opponents.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you check your own fears?
- When did you overestimate an obstacle?
Another view
Underestimating enemies can sometimes lead to disaster.
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The worst of all conditions in which a belligerent can find himself is to be utterly defenseless.
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