Sun Tzu

To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.

— Sun Tzu

There are routes not to be followed, armies not to be attacked, citadels not to be besieged, territory not to be fought…

— Sun Tzu

“Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved…

— Sun Tzu

The successful person has unusual skill at dealing with conflict and ensuring the best outcome for all.

— Sun Tzu

Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.

— Sun Tzu

Know the enemy, know yourself; your victory will never be endangered. Know the ground, know the weather; your victory will then be…

— Sun Tzu

If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.

— Sun Tzu

If their forces are substantial, prepare for them; if their forces are strong, avoid them.

— Sun Tzu

It is a doctrine of war not to assume the enemy will not come, but rather to rely on one's readiness to…

— Sun Tzu

Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small. The difficult things in this…

— Sun Tzu

If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if…

— Sun Tzu

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

— Sun Tzu

“15. Hence a wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy's provisions is equivalent to…

— Sun Tzu

Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a…

— Sun Tzu

“The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim. Therefore…

— Sun Tzu

“latter accretions are not to be considered part of the original work. Tu Mu's assertion can certainly not be taken as proof."…

— Sun Tzu

“as swift as wind, as gentle as forest, as fierce as fire, as unshakable as mountain”

— Sun Tzu

“Whether in an advantageous position or a disadvantageous one, the opposite state should be always present to your mind.”

— Sun Tzu

Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.

— Sun Tzu

All warfare is based on deception. There is no place where espionage is not used. Offer the enemy bait to lure him.

— Sun Tzu

“licited from spirits; it cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by any”

— Sun Tzu

“Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his…

— Sun Tzu

The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by…

— Sun Tzu

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

— Sun Tzu

Those who excel in war first cultivate their own humanity and and maintain their laws and institutions. By these means they make…

— Sun Tzu

“16. While we keep away from such places, we should get the enemy to approach them; while we face them, we should…

— Sun Tzu

Like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.

— Sun Tzu

“cuando te conoces a ti mismo y conoces a los demás, la victoria no es un peligro; cuando conoces el cielo y…

— Sun Tzu

It is ten thousand times cheaper to pay the best spies lavishly than even a tiny army poorly.

— Sun Tzu

“To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy…

— Sun Tzu

“very well represent a collected edition of these lumped together with the original work. It is also possible,”

— Sun Tzu

“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

A kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to…

— Sun Tzu

Without harmony in the State, no military expedition can be undertaken; without harmony in the army, no battle array can be formed.

— Sun Tzu

Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.

— Sun Tzu

In warfare, there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent will succeed and win.

— Sun Tzu

“threw light upon the principles of war. It is obvious enough that Ssu-ma Ch'ien at least had no doubt about the reality…

— Sun Tzu

Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.

— Sun Tzu

Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.

— Sun Tzu

“Neither is it the acme of excellence if you fight and conquer and the whole Empire says, “Well done!”

— Sun Tzu