Don't engage with someone with nothing to lose. It's an unequal fight.

IF you are going to fight, don't let them talk you into negotiating. But, if you are going to negotiate, don't let them talk you into fighting.

Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.

Never have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.

No reason to join a fight until you know what side you're on.

You will never have to experience defeat if you avoid contests whose outcome is outside your control.

Never test another man by your own weakness.

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.

Beating yourself up is never a fair fight.

Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning.

Sometimes you do have to fight. Where that’s true, you should fight and win. There is no middle ground: either don’t throw any punches, or strike hard and end it quickly.

If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed;
if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may
come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.

Never compete with someone who has nothing to lose.

Remember no man is really defeated unless he is discouraged.