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It is not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog

Meaning: Determination and spirit matter far more than physical size or advantage.

Origin: Attributed to Mark Twain, widely used in American culture since the 19th century.

Translations

  • French: Ce n'est pas la taille du chien dans le combat, c'est la taille du combat dans le chien (literally: It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog)
  • Spanish: No es el tamaño del perro en la pelea, sino el tamaño de la pelea en el perro (literally: It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog)
  • Japanese: 戦いの中の犬の大きさではなく、犬の中の戦いの大きさが重要 (Tatakai no naka no inu no ōkisa de wa naku, inu no naka no tatakai no ōkisa ga jūyō) (literally: Not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog)

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