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War Quotes by Sun Tzu

409 War quotes by Sun Tzu

All War quotes Sun Tzu’s page

Sun Tzu taught that a smaller army should surround a larger one, and that a good fighter acts quickly and decides fast. He warned that anger and greed lead to loss, and that safety comes from holding positions the enemy can’t attack. He also said a clever general plans many details before a battle, while an unwise one rushes in.

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All war is deception.

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All war is based on deception.

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A leader leads by example not by force.

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“The wise warrior avoids the battle.”

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Every battle is won before it is fought.

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Victory is the main object in war.

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The Art of War is self-explanatory

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Quickness is the essence of the war.

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No nation has ever benefited from a prolonged war.

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He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.

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“These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.”

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Sweat more during peace: bleed less during war

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“The captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept.”

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Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack.

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Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

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There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.

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In conflict, straightforward actions generally lead to engagement, surprising actions generally lead to victory.

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Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.

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A sovereign of high character and intelligence must be able to know the right man, should place the responsibility on him, and…

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These are six ways of courting defeat, which must be carefully noted by the general who has attained a responsible post.

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The dance of battle is always played to the same impatient rhythm. What begins in a surge of violent motion is always…

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Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.

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“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”

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It is imperative to contest all factions for complete victory, so the army is not garrisoned and the profit can be total.…

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“Sun Tzu said: Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight;…

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“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a…

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“Where there are repeated wars, the people are weakened; when they score repeated victories, rulers become haughty. Let haughty rulers command weakened…

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The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to…

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When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them.…

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A clever general... avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.…

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It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be…

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“15. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who…

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Getting people to fight by letting the force of momentum work is like rolling logs and rocks. Logs and rocks are still…

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Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity; They cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness; Without subtle ingenuity…

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There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune on his army: By commanding the army to advance or to…

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The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed.…

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When your weapons are dulled and ardour damped, your strength exhausted and treasure spent, neighboring rulers will take advantage of your distress…

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All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem…

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There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever…

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All warfare is based on deception. Therefore, when capable, feign incapacity; when active, inactivity. When near, make it appear that you are…

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More by Sun Tzu

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…

It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…

Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.

“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.”

“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…

Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.

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…

“So long as victory can be attained, stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness.”

“You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.”

“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…

If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely…

“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes…

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

“To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.”

They [spies] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness.