Looking for an idiom or expression synonymous with “where force fails, skill and patience will prevail”












1















I am looking for an idiom or expression, conveying the same meaning as this one - Where force fails, skill and patience will prevail. I do not know whether this one is used in English, so I am looking for a different one. The implication is that one finds another way to do something, using his wit and acumen, instead of doing it with physical force. For example:




  1. He is a sharp-witted person. Instead of carrying wood logs down to his basement by hand, he came up with an idea of using a treadmill to finish the job.










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  • 1





    The only thing that comes to mind is "brain over brawn". it might not be an expression, but it is simple and clean, and pretty much what you mean.

    – Uhtred Ragnarsson
    yesterday













  • Somewhat related is "the pen is mightier than the sword."

    – user888379
    yesterday











  • I find nothing wrong with your phrase in the first place. It may not be a set phrase that's used all the time (although it sounds like it should be), but it's perfectly understandable, conveys exactly what you want, and even rhymes. I don't think that using something else would be preferable.

    – Jason Bassford
    13 hours ago













  • I thought of 'less is more' but I think it needs more.

    – Nigel J
    8 hours ago
















1















I am looking for an idiom or expression, conveying the same meaning as this one - Where force fails, skill and patience will prevail. I do not know whether this one is used in English, so I am looking for a different one. The implication is that one finds another way to do something, using his wit and acumen, instead of doing it with physical force. For example:




  1. He is a sharp-witted person. Instead of carrying wood logs down to his basement by hand, he came up with an idea of using a treadmill to finish the job.










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    The only thing that comes to mind is "brain over brawn". it might not be an expression, but it is simple and clean, and pretty much what you mean.

    – Uhtred Ragnarsson
    yesterday













  • Somewhat related is "the pen is mightier than the sword."

    – user888379
    yesterday











  • I find nothing wrong with your phrase in the first place. It may not be a set phrase that's used all the time (although it sounds like it should be), but it's perfectly understandable, conveys exactly what you want, and even rhymes. I don't think that using something else would be preferable.

    – Jason Bassford
    13 hours ago













  • I thought of 'less is more' but I think it needs more.

    – Nigel J
    8 hours ago














1












1








1








I am looking for an idiom or expression, conveying the same meaning as this one - Where force fails, skill and patience will prevail. I do not know whether this one is used in English, so I am looking for a different one. The implication is that one finds another way to do something, using his wit and acumen, instead of doing it with physical force. For example:




  1. He is a sharp-witted person. Instead of carrying wood logs down to his basement by hand, he came up with an idea of using a treadmill to finish the job.










share|improve this question
















I am looking for an idiom or expression, conveying the same meaning as this one - Where force fails, skill and patience will prevail. I do not know whether this one is used in English, so I am looking for a different one. The implication is that one finds another way to do something, using his wit and acumen, instead of doing it with physical force. For example:




  1. He is a sharp-witted person. Instead of carrying wood logs down to his basement by hand, he came up with an idea of using a treadmill to finish the job.







idiom-requests expression-requests






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edited yesterday









Laurel

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33.8k667118










asked yesterday









BeqaBeqa

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  • 1





    The only thing that comes to mind is "brain over brawn". it might not be an expression, but it is simple and clean, and pretty much what you mean.

    – Uhtred Ragnarsson
    yesterday













  • Somewhat related is "the pen is mightier than the sword."

    – user888379
    yesterday











  • I find nothing wrong with your phrase in the first place. It may not be a set phrase that's used all the time (although it sounds like it should be), but it's perfectly understandable, conveys exactly what you want, and even rhymes. I don't think that using something else would be preferable.

    – Jason Bassford
    13 hours ago













  • I thought of 'less is more' but I think it needs more.

    – Nigel J
    8 hours ago














  • 1





    The only thing that comes to mind is "brain over brawn". it might not be an expression, but it is simple and clean, and pretty much what you mean.

    – Uhtred Ragnarsson
    yesterday













  • Somewhat related is "the pen is mightier than the sword."

    – user888379
    yesterday











  • I find nothing wrong with your phrase in the first place. It may not be a set phrase that's used all the time (although it sounds like it should be), but it's perfectly understandable, conveys exactly what you want, and even rhymes. I don't think that using something else would be preferable.

    – Jason Bassford
    13 hours ago













  • I thought of 'less is more' but I think it needs more.

    – Nigel J
    8 hours ago








1




1





The only thing that comes to mind is "brain over brawn". it might not be an expression, but it is simple and clean, and pretty much what you mean.

– Uhtred Ragnarsson
yesterday







The only thing that comes to mind is "brain over brawn". it might not be an expression, but it is simple and clean, and pretty much what you mean.

– Uhtred Ragnarsson
yesterday















Somewhat related is "the pen is mightier than the sword."

– user888379
yesterday





Somewhat related is "the pen is mightier than the sword."

– user888379
yesterday













I find nothing wrong with your phrase in the first place. It may not be a set phrase that's used all the time (although it sounds like it should be), but it's perfectly understandable, conveys exactly what you want, and even rhymes. I don't think that using something else would be preferable.

– Jason Bassford
13 hours ago







I find nothing wrong with your phrase in the first place. It may not be a set phrase that's used all the time (although it sounds like it should be), but it's perfectly understandable, conveys exactly what you want, and even rhymes. I don't think that using something else would be preferable.

– Jason Bassford
13 hours ago















I thought of 'less is more' but I think it needs more.

– Nigel J
8 hours ago





I thought of 'less is more' but I think it needs more.

– Nigel J
8 hours ago










2 Answers
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Attack by Stratagem Sun Tzu SunTzuSaid




Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme
excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's
resistance without fighting.







share|improve this answer































    0














    Work smart, not hard



    Your brain is the most powerful muscle in your body



    The Mind Is The Body's Strongest Muscle






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    SciFiGuy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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    • The nearly rhyming "smarter, not harder" is more common in my experience.

      – Davo
      yesterday











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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes









    1














    Attack by Stratagem Sun Tzu SunTzuSaid




    Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme
    excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's
    resistance without fighting.







    share|improve this answer




























      1














      Attack by Stratagem Sun Tzu SunTzuSaid




      Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme
      excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's
      resistance without fighting.







      share|improve this answer


























        1












        1








        1







        Attack by Stratagem Sun Tzu SunTzuSaid




        Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme
        excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's
        resistance without fighting.







        share|improve this answer













        Attack by Stratagem Sun Tzu SunTzuSaid




        Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme
        excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's
        resistance without fighting.








        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered yesterday









        lbflbf

        22.1k22575




        22.1k22575

























            0














            Work smart, not hard



            Your brain is the most powerful muscle in your body



            The Mind Is The Body's Strongest Muscle






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            SciFiGuy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.





















            • The nearly rhyming "smarter, not harder" is more common in my experience.

              – Davo
              yesterday
















            0














            Work smart, not hard



            Your brain is the most powerful muscle in your body



            The Mind Is The Body's Strongest Muscle






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            SciFiGuy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.





















            • The nearly rhyming "smarter, not harder" is more common in my experience.

              – Davo
              yesterday














            0












            0








            0







            Work smart, not hard



            Your brain is the most powerful muscle in your body



            The Mind Is The Body's Strongest Muscle






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            SciFiGuy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.










            Work smart, not hard



            Your brain is the most powerful muscle in your body



            The Mind Is The Body's Strongest Muscle







            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            SciFiGuy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer






            New contributor




            SciFiGuy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            answered yesterday









            SciFiGuySciFiGuy

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            New contributor





            SciFiGuy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            SciFiGuy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.













            • The nearly rhyming "smarter, not harder" is more common in my experience.

              – Davo
              yesterday



















            • The nearly rhyming "smarter, not harder" is more common in my experience.

              – Davo
              yesterday

















            The nearly rhyming "smarter, not harder" is more common in my experience.

            – Davo
            yesterday





            The nearly rhyming "smarter, not harder" is more common in my experience.

            – Davo
            yesterday


















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