the best defense is a good offense
the BEST deh-FENTS iz a GOOD AWF-ents
ðə bɛst dɪˈfɛns ɪz ə ɡʊd ˈɒfənsListen
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Dictionary meaning
the strategic principle that proactive attack or forward pressure is more effective than passive resistance, because taking the initiative forces the adversary into a reactive defensive posture where they cannot develop their own offensive plans; widely attributed to George Washington though its origins are disputed, the maxim is used across military strategy, sports, law, business, and personal dispute contexts to argue for assertive action rather than waiting to absorb blows; it implies that the most reliable form of protection lies in preventing an adversary from ever mounting an effective attack in the first place
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