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Portrait of Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu

Philosopher Wu

685 quotes in 1259 categories

Sun Tzu is a philosopher from Wu, best known for The Art of War.

Quick Facts About Sun Tzu

Nationality: Wu
Profession: Philosopher
Notable works: The Art of War

About Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, a Classical Chinese text on military strategy from the Warring States period, though the earliest parts of the work probably date to at least a century after him.

Biography source: Wikipedia

Quotes 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,…

Army

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

Aspect

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

Bypass

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

Anger

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“The PEOPLE being regarded as the essential part of the State, and FOOD as the people's heaven, is it not right that…

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

Art

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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.…

Able

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

Business

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

Business

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

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

Art

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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…

War

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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…

Art of war

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

Business

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

Art

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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…

Art

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“Master Sun So it is said that if you know others and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred…

War

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Do not press an enemy at bay.

Art

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When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.

Art

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Of all rewards none [is] more liberal than those given to secret agents.

Agents

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If fighting is sure to result in victory, than you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not…

Bidding

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

Force

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“The answer was again in the affirmative, so arrangements were made to bring 180 ladies out of the Palace. Sun Tzu divided…

Left hand

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You cannot know if you will be successful or not. You can only prepare for battle and it must be done with…

Battle

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Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.

Army

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Sun Tzu by topic

War (409) Art of war (231) Art (200) Enemy (149) Strategy (86) Army (73) Victory (62) Battle (55) Ifs (53) Fighting (51) Business (50) Strategist (40) Military (39) Inspirational (35) Winning (33)