“There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited . . . What is essential in war is… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The successful person has unusual skill at dealing with conflict and ensuring the best outcome for all. — 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
If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“Whether in an advantageous position or a disadvantageous one, the opposite state should be always present to your mind.” — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the first move, it is called temporising ground. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Therefore the skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak. Water shapes its course… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory is won, whereas he who is destined… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“Conform to the enemy's tactics until a favorable opportunity offers; then come forth and engage in a battle that shall prove decisive.” — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
As water shapes its flow in accordance with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the situation of… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
To ... not prepare is the greatest of crimes; to be prepared beforehand for any contingency is the greatest of virtues. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
The art of giving orders is not to try to rectify the minor blunders and not be swayed by petty doubts. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.” — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
It is the business of a general to be serene and inscrutable, impartial and self-controlled. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.” — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men,… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled against another ten times its size, the result will be the flight of… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Birds rising in flight is a sign that the enemy is lying in ambush; when the wild animals are startled and flee… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.” — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“It is best to keep one’s own state intact; to crush the enemy’s state is only second best.” — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“A sovereign should never launch an army out of anger, a leader should never start a war out of wrath” — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
“If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves… — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots. — Sun Tzu Copy Share Image
Order or disorder depends on organisation and direction; courage or cowardice on circumstances; strength or weakness on tactical dispositions. — 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
