When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements; and you will be able to handle a whole… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Know yourself and you will win all battles. Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
He who knows things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible and hence we can hold… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is insubordination. When the officers are too strong… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are not clear and distinct; when there are no fixed duties… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming,… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The general must be the first in the toils and fatigues of the army. In the heat of summer he does not… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“from the ancient Chinese commentators found in the Giles edition. Of these four, Giles' 1910 edition is the most scholarly and presents… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough; hence the institution of gongs and drums... banners and… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Whoever is the first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy will be fresh for the fight... Therefore the… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover,… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The art of giving orders is not to try to rectify the minor blunders and not be swayed by petty doubts. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
It is the business of a general to be serene and inscrutable, impartial and self-controlled. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.” — 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
Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never peril. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re-occupy is called entangling. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuvering for advantageous positions. — 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
