Looking for an idiom or expression synonymous with “where force fails, skill and patience will prevail”
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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:
- 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
edited yesterday
Laurel
33.8k667118
asked yesterday
BeqaBeqa
616414
add a comment |
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:
- 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
edited yesterday
Laurel
33.8k667118
asked yesterday
BeqaBeqa
616414
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
add a comment |
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:
- 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
edited yesterday
Laurel
33.8k667118
asked yesterday
BeqaBeqa
616414
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:
- 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
idiom-requests expression-requests
edited yesterday
Laurel
33.8k667118
asked yesterday
BeqaBeqa
616414
edited yesterday
Laurel
33.8k667118
asked yesterday
BeqaBeqa
616414
edited yesterday
Laurel
33.8k667118
edited yesterday
Laurel
33.8k667118
edited yesterday
Laurel
33.8k667118
33.8k667118
asked yesterday
BeqaBeqa
616414
asked yesterday
BeqaBeqa
616414
asked yesterday
BeqaBeqa
616414
616414
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
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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.
answered yesterday
lbflbf
22.1k22575
add a comment |
Work smart, not hard
Your brain is the most powerful muscle in your body
The Mind Is The Body's Strongest Muscle
answered yesterday
SciFiGuySciFiGuy
1251
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
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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votes
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.
answered yesterday
lbflbf
22.1k22575
add a comment |
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.
answered yesterday
lbflbf
22.1k22575
add a comment |
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.
answered yesterday
lbflbf
22.1k22575
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.
answered yesterday
lbflbf
22.1k22575
answered yesterday
lbflbf
22.1k22575
answered yesterday
lbflbf
22.1k22575
answered yesterday
lbflbf
22.1k22575
22.1k22575
add a comment |
add a comment |
Work smart, not hard
Your brain is the most powerful muscle in your body
The Mind Is The Body's Strongest Muscle
answered yesterday
SciFiGuySciFiGuy
1251
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
add a comment |
Work smart, not hard
Your brain is the most powerful muscle in your body
The Mind Is The Body's Strongest Muscle
answered yesterday
SciFiGuySciFiGuy
1251
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
add a comment |
Work smart, not hard
Your brain is the most powerful muscle in your body
The Mind Is The Body's Strongest Muscle
answered yesterday
SciFiGuySciFiGuy
1251
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
answered yesterday
SciFiGuySciFiGuy
1251
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
1251
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
1251
answered yesterday
SciFiGuySciFiGuy
1251
1251
New contributor
SciFiGuy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
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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