“Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.”
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About this quote
Half measures betray skill, invite failure, and waste your chance to finish what you started. Use it as a rule for tough choices: prepare fully, decide clearly, and when you act, commit without reservation.
When to use it
- In a negotiation, walk away if you can keep your integrity; if you agree to terms, negotiate firmly and don't accept weak compromises.
- As a manager, avoid punishing minor mistakes that honor the effort; when discipline is required, apply it clearly and decisively so the lesson sticks.
- In competition or training, avoid unnecessary fights, but when it's time to perform, give full power and precision — no half-hearted attempts.
- When giving feedback, skip soft, pointless comments; deliver direct, honest guidance that helps someone improve rather than placates them.

