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Victory Quotes by Sun Tzu

63 Victory quotes by Sun Tzu

All Victory quotes Sun Tzu’s page

A battle plan drawn like shapes shows that victory often comes from hidden strategy rather than straight attacks. Winning without fighting, like an opponent surrendering before a clash, is praised as the best triumph, and those who can adapt to the enemy’s moves are called divine.

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The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

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Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.

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Victory is the main object in war.

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Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.

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If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight.

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What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.

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It is not a victory unless you say 'Jumanji´.

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The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.

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“All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is…

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Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.

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According to my assessment, even if you have many more troops than others, how can that help you to victory?

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

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Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy; forceful execution of even a poor plan can often bring victory.

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Victory usually goes to the army who has better trained officers and men.

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The one who figures on victory at headquarters before even doing battle is the one who has the most strategic factors on…

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He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming,…

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In warfare, first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle; if you will not begin with…

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If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition…

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Therefore, to estimate the enemy situation and to calculate distances and the degree of difficulty of the terrain so as to control…

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The natural formation of the country is the soldier's best ally; but a power of estimating the adversary, of controlling the forces…

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The supreme excellence is not to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles. The supreme excellence is to subdue the armies…

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The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win…

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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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Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not…

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Invincibility is in oneself, and vulnerability is in the opponent. Invincibility is a matter of defense, vulnerability is a matter of attack.…

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Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards... Water shapes…

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Hostile armies may face each other for years, striving for the victory which is decided in a single day. This being so,…

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“Invincibility depends on one's self; the enemy's vulnerability on him. It follows that those skilled in war can make themselves invincible but…

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

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To capture the enemy's entire army is better than to destroy it; to take intact a regiment, a company, or a squad…

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

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

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So the important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence.

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Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.

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Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.

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“Those who are able to adapt and change in accord with the enemy and achieve victory are called divine.”

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To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful. Everyone calls victory in battle good, but it is…

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Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack.

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When I have won a victory I do not repeat my tactics but respond to circumstances in an infinite variety of ways.

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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.