Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The value of time, that is of being a little ahead of your opponent, often provides greater advantage than superior numbers or… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Know the enemy, know yourself; your victory will never be endangered. Know the ground, know the weather; your victory will then be… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The military has no constant form, just as water has no constant shape - adapt as you face the enemy, without letting… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
These are the six ways of courting defeat - neglect to estimate the enemy's strength; want of authority; defective training; unjustifiable anger;… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce. If the… — 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 the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter… — 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
The essential factor of military success is speed, that is taking advantage of others' unpreparedness or lack of foresight, their failure to… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace. The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch'ang mountains.… — 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
If not in the interests of the state, do not act. If you cannot succeed, do not use troops. If you are… — 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
Now a soldier's spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
When I have won a victory I do not repeat my tactics but respond to circumstances in an infinite variety of ways. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
With regard to ground of this nature, be before the enemy in occupying the raised and sunny spots, and carefully guard your… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become, as it were, like rolling logs or stones... The energy developed by good… — 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
Be the first to seize intersecting ground, that is ground which lies the intersections of borders or intersections of main thoroughfares of… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: recklessness, which leads to destruction; cowardice, which leads to capture; a hasty… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but continues his preparations, he will advance. When their language is deceptive but the… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground: (1) Dispersive ground; (2) Facile ground; (3) Contentious ground;… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The General who in advancing does not seek personal fame, and in withdrawing is not concerned with avoiding punishment, but whose only… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“Sun Tzu said: In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly array and on the point of marching to… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“5,6. The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure… — 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
