Negotiate with your enemy whilst you are a strong and formidable force, and he will always fear and respect you, but negotiate at the brink of defeat, and he will trample you down. (African Proverb)

Negotiate with your enemy whilst you are a strong and formidable force, and he will always fear and respect you, but negotiate at the brink of defeat, and he will trample you down.

African Proverb

Related topics

brink defeat enemy fear force respect trample

Related proverbs

Till age six, your son is your master; until ten he's your servant; until sixteen, a wonderful adviser; from then on, he's either your friend or your enemy. View proverb
Jewish Proverb
That my friend should be well is our wish, and that our enemies should be gone! May those friendly to you reach their goal as a ship does a friendly harbour! May your enemy, like the flood waters of a river, return to his city. View proverb
Sumerian Proverb
To take revenge on an enemy, give him an elephant -- first he must thank you for the gift, and then the elephant's appetite will deplete your enemy's resources. View proverb
Nepal Proverb
I need not fear my enemies because the most they can do is attack me. I need not fear my friends because the most they can do is betray me. But I have much to fear from people who are indifferent. View proverb
Russian Proverb
When a man is not a lover in his twenties, not strong in his thirties, not rich in his forties and not wise in his fifties he will never be so. View proverb
Czech Proverb