Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
It is ten thousand times cheaper to pay the best spies lavishly than even a tiny army poorly. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Without harmony in the State, no military expedition can be undertaken; without harmony in the army, no battle array can be formed. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Of all those in the army close to the commander, none is more intimate than the secret agent. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
As water shapes its flow in accordance with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the situation of… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Carefully study the well-being of your men, and do not overtax them. Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your army… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
In warfare, first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle; if you will not begin with… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“When one treats people with benevolence, justice, and righteoousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
It is through the dispositions of an army that its condition may be discovered. Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans, the next best is to prevent the junction of the… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors. We are not fit to lead an… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
We cannot enter into alliance with neighbouring princes until we are acquainted with their designs. We are not fit to lead an… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
In your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
When you do battle, even if you are winning, if you continue for a long time it will dull your forces and… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
To capture the enemy's entire army is better than to destroy it; to take intact a regiment, a company, or a squad… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If you are situated at a great distance from the enemy, and the strength of the two armies is equal, it is… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Now an army is exposed to six several calamities, not arising from natural causes, 1 but from faults for which the general… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Bestow rewards without respect to customary practice; publish orders without respect to precedent. Thus you may employ the entire army as you… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
An army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water avoids the heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one,… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of its momentum. When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack… — Sun Tzu Copy Share
It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see… — Sun Tzu Copy Share
Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you. — Sun Tzu Copy Share
“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.” — Sun Tzu Copy Share
“The PEOPLE being regarded as the essential part of the State, and FOOD as the people's heaven, is it not right that those in… — Sun Tzu Copy Share
Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision. — Sun Tzu Copy Share
The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they… — Sun Tzu Copy Share
“So long as victory can be attained, stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness.” — Sun Tzu Copy Share
“You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.” — Sun Tzu Copy Share
“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make… — Sun Tzu Copy Share
If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely… — Sun Tzu Copy Share
“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes… — Sun Tzu Copy Share
In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. — Sun Tzu Copy Share
“To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.” — Sun Tzu Copy Share
They [spies] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. — Sun Tzu Copy Share
