“If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck” and ““If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly” are sayings that have been printed on many images.
     
“I’ve always felt that, if you find yourself in a fair fight, you’ve screwed up. The challenge becomes, not being able to win a fair fight, but controlling the entire situation so that it is unfair in your favor” was posted on the newsgroup rec.games.frp.gurps by Xiphias Gladius on October 4, 1997. “If you’re in a fair fight, you didn’t plan it properly.—Nick Lappos, Chief R&D Pilot, Sikorsky Aircraft” was posted on the newsgroup Google Groups: sci.military.naval on November 23, 1998. “I quote Nick Lappos, Chief R&D Pilot for Sikorsky Aircraft ‘If you’re in a fair fight, you didn’t plan it properly’” was posted on the newsgroup alt.tv.stargate-sg1 on August 29, 1999. Nicholas Lappos was the program director for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter.
   
“If you find yourself in a fair fight you didn’t plan your mission properly!” was posted on the newsgroup alt.fan.sarah-m-gellar on June 29, 2000. “If you find yourself in a fair fight, you have not planned enough” was posted on the newsgroup alt.fan.bgcrisis on November 14, 2001. “Murphy’s Rules of Warfare: (...) If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly” was posted on the newsgroup alt.war.vietnam on July 31, 2002. “If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly.(David Hackworth.)” was posted on the newsgroup alt.activism.death-penalty on February 20, 2003. “In fact, there is an old military aphorism which holds that if you find yourself in a fair fight you must be doing something wrong. (...) Joseph Reber, USMC Retired” was printed in the Press Dispatch (Victorville, CA) on March 2, 2003. “In the Army, we had a saying: If you’re in a fair fight, you didn’t prepare well enough” was printed in Black Belt magazine in August 2003. Colonel David Haskell Hackworth (1930-2005) probably said this, but it does not appear that he was the first.
     
“‘If you are ever in a fair fight, your tactics suck.’ I forget the attribution, think it was a former SEAL” was posted on the newsgroup misc.survivalism on March 28, 2002. “‘If you are in a fair fight, your tactics suck.’ - Herschel Davis” was posted on the newsgroup us.military.army on November 5, 2002. “If you are in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Hershel Davis USN Ret.” was posted on the newsgroup misc.fitness.weights on May 13, 2005. “As John Steinbeck once said. 1. Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is to old to fight, he’ll just kill you. 2. If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck” was posted on the newsgroup news-sarasota on November 20, 2007. It’s probable that this version of the saying is from Hershel Davis. The 2007 attribution to American writer John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was jocular. Steinbeck never said it, but is frequently credited.
   
     
Google Groups: rec.games.frp.gurps   
Mecha fights?
Xiphias Gladius
Oct 4, 1997, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
I’ve always felt that, if you find yourself in a fair fight, you’ve screwed up. The challenge becomes, not being able to win a fair fight, but controlling the entire situation so that it is unfair in your favor.
 
Google Groups: sci.military.naval
DREAM ARMADA
Renegade
Nov 23, 1998, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
If you’re in a fair fight, you didn’t plan it properly.
—Nick Lappos, Chief R&D Pilot, Sikorsky Aircraft
 
Google Groups: microsoft.public.games.zone.fighterace   
Combat Aviation Quotes
TD_Saber
Feb 16, 1999, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
If you’re in a fair fight, you didn’t plan it properly.
—Nick Lappos, Chief R&D Pilot, Sikorsky Aircraft.
     
Google Groups: alt.tv.stargate-sg1
Bad choices by SGC
Casey
Aug 29, 1999, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
I quote Nick Lappos, Chief R&D Pilot for Sikorsky Aircraft “If you’re in a fair fight, you didn’t plan it properly.”
     
Google Groups: alt.fan.sarah-m-gellar 
test
Jamie Cheetham
Jun 29, 2000, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
If you find yourself in a fair fight you didn’t plan your mission properly!
   
Google Groups: alt.fan.bgcrisis
Stolen fanfics! (Attention: Skyknight!)
Prottoss
Nov 14, 2001, 1:32:04 AM
(...)
If you find yourself in a fair fight, you have not planned enough.
       
Google Groups: misc.survivalism
Tree Caches
Skip Hammond
Mar 28, 2002, 2:46:42 AM
(...)
“If you are ever in a fair fight, your tactics suck.” I forget the attribution, think it was a former SEAL
   
Google Groups: de.rec.spiele.computer.action
GTA 3 erste El Burto Mission
Andre Weihe
May 31, 2002, 7:45:02 AM
(...)
If your in a fair fight, Your tactics suck!
 
Google Groups: alt.war.vietnam
!Jones UP - Murphy’s Rules of Warfare
Duke of URL
Jul 31, 2002, 5:15:59 PM
Murphy’s Rules of Warfare:
(...)
No plan survives the first contact intact.
/ If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly.
     
Google Groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack
Newbie Question re: Ghosts & My Pet & Werefoo
Stuart Fraser
Aug 15, 2002, 8:57:08 PM
(...)
Indeed. Considering I had a head start and I’m more prepared to use spoilers, you may be at a disadvantage here, however, a wise man once said: “If you’re in a fair fight, your tactics suck!”
     
Google Groups: us.military.army
A buddy is back from afganistan!
Cindi Prudhomme
Nov 5, 2002, 1:56:31 AM
(...)
“If you are in a fair fight, your tactics suck.”
- Herschel Davis
 
Google Groups: can.community.military
Operators Rules to Soldierly Gunfighting ......
Cindi Prudhomme
Dec 6, 2002, 6:37:24 PM
(...)
“If you are in a fair fight, your tactics suck.”
- Herschel Davis
 
Newspapers.com
8 January 2003, The Interior News (Smithers, BC), pg. A6, col. 1:
If you find yourself
in a fair fight, you
didn’t plan it
properly.
Nick Lappos
 
Google Groups: alt.activism.death-penalty   
Military guide to Iraq ‘war’ (sic)
A Planet Visitor
Feb 20, 2003, 12:12:27 PM
A lot of life’s problems can be explained by the U.S. Military and its applications of common sense….
(...)
21. If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly.(David Hackworth.)
     
Newspapers.com
2 March 2003, Press Dispatch (Victorville, CA), “Letters,” pg. B4, col. 2:
In fact, there is an old military aphorism which holds that if you find yourself in a fair fight you must be doing something wrong.
(...)
Joseph Reber
USMC Retired
Apple Valley
 
Google Groups: atl.arno
Military Wisdom
jff
Mar 4, 2003, 7:50:57 PM
(...)
21. If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly. (David Hackworth.)
 
21 March 2003, Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland), “Allies can only guess at level of support for Saddam ; Psychological warfare has a key part in coalition tactics, reports Deaglan de Breadun in Doha,” pg. 14: 
There is a sign in the Coalition Media Centre in Doha, capital of Qatar, which reads: “If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly.”
 
It provides an insight into the mental attitude behind US preparation for the war in Iraq: plan the campaign meticulously and use overwhelming force to achieve your goals.
 
23 March 2003, Sunday Herald (Glasgow, Scotland), “Part One: The Shock, The Awe, The Deaths,” pg. 1:
A prominent sign inside British military headquarters in Qatar gives the game away about the tactics being used by the coalition forces in the Iraq conflict. It reads: “If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly.” The message is clear. Why give aid to the opposition by revealing your plans in advance?
     
Google Groups: alt.callahans
AMOTishQ - what book?
Jai Rose
May 5, 2003, 12:47:43 PM
(...)
“If you’re in a fair fight, your tactics suck!” Unknown
 
Google Books
August 2003, Black Belt, pg. 64, col. 2:
In the Army, we had a saying: If you’re in a fair fight, you didn’t prepare well enough.
   
Google Books
SP’s Military Yearbook
Volume 33
2003
Pg. 39:
It is an old counter-insurgency truism that if you’re in a fair fight, you haven’t planned properly.
 
Google Books
July 2004, Black Belt, pg. 77, col. 1:
*We had a rule in the Army: If you’re in a fair fight, you just didn’t prepare well enough.”
   
Google Groups: misc.fitness.weights
Working out in the morning
The BassRustler
May 13, 2005, 12:19:25 AM
(...)
If you are in a fair fight, your tactics suck!
Hershel Davis USN Ret.
 
Google Groups: news-sarasota
[the_No_Bleep_zone] Profound Thinking!
Mark R Taylor
Nov 20, 2007, 9:45:47 PM
Kay
 
Profound Thinking!
 
To all you old law dogs now just lyin’ in the shade, current pistoleros and other fervent Second Amendment believers: I would rather be your friend, but if you are not interested in that, I am prepared to be a capable and efficient enemy.
 
This is the law: The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental. As John Steinbeck once said.
 
1. Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is to old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
 
2. If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.
 
3. I carry a gun cause a cop is too heavy. (Gotta love this one!!)
 
4. America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. (Ain’t this the truth?)
 
5. When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away. (Yep, time is some time, but shoot first, then call 911)

6. A reporter did a human interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him “Why do carry a .45?”. The Ranger responded with, “Because they don’t make a .46.”

7. An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.
 
8. The old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a lady commented on his wearing his sidearm. “Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you expecting trouble?” “NO Ma’am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my rifle.” (Winchester Model 94 30-30 Cal. And loaded with Winchester Silver Tips, no doubt).
 
9. Beware the man who only has one gun. HE PROBABLY KNOWS HOW TO USE IT!!!
 
Newspapers.com
20 January 2008, Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram, “F-22 is Still What the U.S. Needs” by J. R. Labbe, pg. 3D, col. 1:
One of my favorite sayings is, “If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.”
 
Google Groups: alt.ask.phred
As John Steinbeck once said:
Don Pyeatt
Mar 6, 2008, 6:42:23 AM
As John Steinbeck once said:
The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.

1. Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.

2. If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.

3. I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.
 
4. When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away.
 
5. A reporter did a human-interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him “Why do you carry a 45?” The Ranger responded, “Because they don’t make a .46.”

6. An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.
 
7. An old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a lady commented on his wearing his sidearm. “Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you expecting trouble?” “No Ma’am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my rifle.”
 
8. Beware the man who only has one gun. HE PROBABLY KNOWS HOW TO USE IT!!!
   
Twitter
matt
@brimston3
“If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly.” - David Hackworth
4:34 PM · Aug 1, 2008
 
Twitter
Resume Footprint
@CareerFootprint
“If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.” - John Steinbeck (RT @DebraWheatman)
9:02 PM · Jun 3, 2009
   
Twitter
Wayland Ma
@wayway8
RT @alizziegal: “If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.” - John Steinbeck
2:13 PM · Oct 15, 2009
     
Twitter
Egbert Sukop
@esukop
“If you’re in a fair fight, you didn’t plan it properly.”—Nick Lappos; Chief R&D pilot, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
1:23 AM · Nov 11, 2009
 
Twitter
Walaa™
@WalaaIdris
I’m told of an elite military saying “If you find yourself in a fair fight, you’ve done something wrong” #LabourLost
5:47 AM · Mar 25, 2010
   
Twitter
Lisa ♥ Laine
@rightLainey
2nd amendment wisdom: .  If you find yourself in a fair fight, there is something wrong with your tactics.
9:44 PM · Oct 24, 2010
   
Twitter
Joe
@joep0099
Replying to @KurtSchlichter
@KurtSchlichter @hiramjgoldstein @conor64 Can’t remember who said it, but: If you find yourself in a fair fight, you did something wrong.
5:14 PM · Sep 26, 2012
     
Google Books
The Military Quotation Book:
More than 1,100 of the Best Quotations About War, Leadership, Courage and Victory
Edited by James Charlton
New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press
2013
Pg. 44: (This does not appear to be the correct page.—ed.)
If you’re in a fair fight, you didn’t plan it properly.
NICK LAPPOS
 
Twitter
Tim Ferriss
@tferriss
“If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly.” - Colonel David Hackworth
7:09 PM · Oct 8, 2015
       
Twitter
Matt Kadish - SaltyNerd.com
@MatthewKadish
“If you ever find yourself in a fair fight, you’re doing something wrong.”
-Winners
3:20 PM · Dec 31, 2016
 
Twitter
Lafing Sinik
@LaughingCynic
Replying to @jbsmileyjr
As my martial arts instructor says, “if you are in a fair fight, you are doing something wrong”.
2:36 PM · Feb 7, 2022
 
The Patriot Post
JANUARY 20, 2023
Your Tactics Suck
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A FAIR FIGHT,
YOUR TACTICS SUCK.
JOHN STEINBECK