Army Quote by Sun Tzu
“The general must be the first in the toils and fatigues of the army. In the heat of summer he does not spread his parasol nor in the cold of winter don thick clothing. In dangerous places he must dismount and walk. He waits until the army's wells have been dug and only then drinks; until the army's food is cooked before he eats; until the army's fortifications have been completed, to shelter himself.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: The Art of War, 5th century BC
A leader should share the hardships of their troops, showing humility and solidarity by enduring the same conditions before taking personal comfort.
In simple terms: Leaders must endure the same hardships as their soldiers.
Key Takeaway
Lead by sharing hardships and waiting for conditions to improve.
Themes
leadership
humility
solidarity
service
Mood
respectful
inspirational
Type
strategic
ethical
When to use this quote
- combat leadership
- disaster response
- team building
- political campaigns
Key Concepts
Confucian duty
military ethics
lead‑by‑example
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it appropriate to share hardships?
- How does shared sacrifice affect morale?
A Different Perspective
Leaders may be limited by personal safety or strategic constraints.
![“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 authority should value and be careful of both?"]” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1e5/sun-tzu-283_food_the-people-being-regarded-as-the-essenti_16787.jpg)
![“They [spies] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13c/sun-tzu-283_art_they-spies-cannot-be-properly-managed-wi_77546.jpg)
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
