--- title: "3 Distress Quotes By Sun Tzu" description: "3 Distress quotes by Sun Tzu. Plus more from Sun Tzu and more Distress sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/sun-tzu-283_army_too-frequent-rewards-indicate-that-the-g_1057133.jpg" --- > [Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/too-frequent-rewards-indicate-that-the-general-is-at-the-end-of-his/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/sun-tzu-283_army_too-frequent-rewards-indicate-that-the-g_1057133.jpg) > [One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/one-whose-troops-repeatedly-congregate-in-small-groups-here-and-there/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/sun-tzu-283_adversity_one-whose-troops-repeatedly-congregate-i_2409419.jpg) > [When your weapons are dulled and ardour damped, your strength exhausted and treasure spent, neighboring rulers will take advantage of your distress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-your-weapons-are-dulled-and-ardour-damped-your-strength/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b4/sun-tzu-283_able_when-your-weapons-are-dulled-and-ardour_2660099.jpg) ## Other authors on Distress - [Lailah Gifty Akita 16 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/lailah-gifty-akita/) - [Samuel Johnson 14 quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/samuel-johnson/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b006/author-charles-dickens-22226.jpg) Charles Dickens 7 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/charles-dickens/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b003/author-adolf-hitler-9531.jpg) Adolf Hitler 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/adolf-hitler/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-thomas-paine-90547.jpg) Thomas Paine 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/thomas-paine/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-thomas-malthus-90491.jpg) Thomas Malthus 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/thomas-malthus/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-thomas-jefferson-90435.jpg) Thomas Jefferson 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/thomas-jefferson/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b010/author-friedrich-nietzsche-36363.jpg) Friedrich Nietzsche 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/friedrich-nietzsche/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b006/author-charles-spurgeon-22605.jpg) Charles Spurgeon 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/charles-spurgeon/) ## 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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/go-into-emptiness-strike-voids-bypass-what-he-defends-hit-him-where/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-a-similar-way-the-art-of-war-pinpoints-anger-and-greed-as/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-people-being-regarded-as-the-essential-part-of-the-state-and-food/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/therefore-the-good-fighter-will-be-terrible-in-his-onset-and-prompt/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“So long as victory can be attained,  stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/so-long-as-victory-can-be-attained-stupid-haste-is-preferable-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/you-can-ensure-the-safety-of-your-defense-if-you-only-hold-positions/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-when-able-to-attack-we-must-seem-unable-when-using-our-forces/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-we-do-not-wish-to-fight-we-can-prevent-the-enemy-from-engaging-us/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-general-who-wins-a-battle-makes-many-calculations-in-his-temple/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-all-fighting-the-direct-method-may-be-used-for-joining-battle-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/to-begin-by-bluster-but-afterwards-to-take-fright-at-the-enemy-s/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [ They \[spies\] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/they-spies-cannot-be-properly-managed-without-benevolence-and/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/sun-tzu/#itemlist", "name": "3 Distress Quotes By Sun Tzu", "numberOfItems": 3, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute distress.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sun Tzu" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/too-frequent-rewards-indicate-that-the-general-is-at-the-end-of-his/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/sun-tzu-283_army_too-frequent-rewards-indicate-that-the-g_1057133.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/sun-tzu-283_army_too-frequent-rewards-indicate-that-the-g_1057133.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/sun-tzu-283_army_too-frequent-rewards-indicate-that-the-g_1057133.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that…” — Sun Tzu", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards is in deep distress. One who frequently imposes punishments is in great difficulty. One who is at first excessively brutal and then fears the masses is the pinnacle of stupidity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sun Tzu" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/one-whose-troops-repeatedly-congregate-in-small-groups-here-and-there/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/sun-tzu-283_adversity_one-whose-troops-repeatedly-congregate-i_2409419.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/sun-tzu-283_adversity_one-whose-troops-repeatedly-congregate-i_2409419.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/sun-tzu-283_adversity_one-whose-troops-repeatedly-congregate-i_2409419.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the…” — Sun Tzu", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When your weapons are dulled and ardour damped, your strength exhausted and treasure spent, neighboring rulers will take advantage of your distress to act. 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