--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: first lay plans which will ensure…" description: "\"“first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle; if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute strength alone, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/sun-tzu-283_business_first-lay-plans-which-will-ensure-victor_2087190.jpg" --- # first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead… ![“first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle; if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute strength alone, victory will no longer be assured” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/sun-tzu-283_business_first-lay-plans-which-will-ensure-victor_2087190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/sun-tzu-283_business_first-lay-plans-which-will-ensure-victor_2087190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/sun-tzu-283_business_first-lay-plans-which-will-ensure-victor_2087190.jpg) > ““first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle;  if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute strength alone, victory will no longer be assured”” [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strategic success requires careful planning before direct confrontation, not relying solely on brute force. **In simple terms:** Plan before you fight. Key Takeaway Prioritize strategy over raw strength. Themes strategy leadership preparation Mood analytical cautious Type strategic pragmatic When to use this quote - business negotiations - military operations - project management - sports coaching Key Concepts military tactics risk assessment resource management Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to act quickly? - How do you balance planning and flexibility? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on planning can cause missed opportunities if not balanced with decisive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Begin Stratagem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-stratagem-4106689/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Ensure Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ensure-victory-4106688/) [Plans Ensure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans-ensure-4106691/) [Stratagem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stratagem/) [Stratagem Rely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stratagem-rely-4106690/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [In warfare, first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle; if you will not begin with stratagem but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-warfare-first-lay-plans-which-will-ensure-victory-and-then-lead/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [No nation ever had an army large enough to guarantee it against attack in time of peace, or ensure it of victory in time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/no-nation-ever-had-an-army-large-enough-to-guarantee-it-against-2/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Ultimately, if you look at the game and there are two minutes left, and you have to ensure your victory, you don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/ultimately-if-you-look-at-the-game-and-there-are-two-minutes-left-and/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [To ensure victory the troops must have confidence in themselves as well as in their commanders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/to-ensure-victory-the-troops-must-have-confidence-in-themselves-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/he-will-win-who-has-military-capacity-and-is-not-interfered-with-by/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Know the enemy and know yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune on his army: By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/there-are-three-ways-in-which-a-ruler-can-bring-misfortune-on-his/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. 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On open ground, do not try to block…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/on-dispersive-ground-therefore-fight-not-on-facile-ground-halt-not-on/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans, the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/thus-the-highest-form-of-generalship-is-to-balk-the-enemy-s-plans-the/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Attack by Stratagem”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/attack-by-stratagem/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-skillful-leader-subdues-the-enemy-s-troops-without-any-fighting/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“With his forces intact he will dispute the mastery of the Empire, and thus, without losing a man, his triumph will be complete. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/with-his-forces-intact-he-will-dispute-the-mastery-of-the-empire-and/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Among the numerous stratagems by which pride endeavors to recommend folly to regard, there is scarcely one that meets with less success than affectation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/among-the-numerous-stratagems-by-which-pride-endeavors-to-recommend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [There were various aspects of Sun Tzu's approach that appealed to Ho Chi Minh: a) to learn to understand both the enemy and yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/there-were-various-aspects-of-sun-tzu-s-approach-that-appealed-to-ho/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) > [Stratagem is the right hand of cunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-curtis/stratagem-is-the-right-hand-of-cunning/) [George William Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-curtis/) ## 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. 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