---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let your plans be dark and impenetrable…"
description: "\"“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”\" — Sun Tzu"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/sun-tzu-283_business_let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable_2496709.jpg"
---

#  Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when…

![“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/sun-tzu-283_business_let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable_2496709.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/sun-tzu-283_business_let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable_2496709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/sun-tzu-283_business_let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable_2496709.jpg)

> ““Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.””

[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.

Strategy should be hidden until execution, then act swiftly and decisively.

**In simple terms:** Keep plans secret, strike fast.

Key Takeaway

Maintain secrecy, act decisively.

Themes

strategy secrecy speed decisiveness

Mood

focused determined intense

Type

tactical motivational

When to use this quote

- business negotiations
- sports competition
- military operations
- political campaigns

Key Concepts

Sun Tzu military tactics surprise attack

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance secrecy with team alignment?
- When is rapid action more important than thorough planning?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on secrecy can hinder coordination and trust.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable-as-night/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/let-your-plans-be-dark-and-as-impenetratable-as-night-and-when-you/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [The future is hidden by a dark impenetrable veil, and yet we struggle to pierce through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/the-future-is-hidden-by-a-dark-impenetrable-veil-and-yet-we-struggle/)

[Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/)

> [Demons run when a good man goes to war Night will fall and drown the sun When a good man goes to war Friendship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/demons-run-when-a-good-man-goes-to-war-night-will-fall-and-drown-the/)

[Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/)

> [“We march through snow and we march through rain With naught to lose and naught to gain Sun and moon and sun again One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-delena-white/we-march-through-snow-and-we-march-through-rain-with-naught-to-lose/)

Sarah Delena White

> [~Tonight will be the night that I fall for you~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/secondhand-serenade/tonight-will-be-the-night-that-i-fall-for-you/)

[SecondHand Serenade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/secondhand-serenade/)

> [“Dusk had fallen, While the sky was gray, Red flowers bloomed, And the yellow fade away, Night was to fall, But the sun had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymat-khan/dusk-had-fallen-while-the-sky-was-gray-red-flowers-bloomed-and-the/)

[Neymat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymat-khan/)

> [Nightfall. “What a strange word. ‘Night’ I get. But ‘fall’ is a gentle word. Autumn leaves fall, swirling with languid grace To carpet the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/nightfall-what-a-strange-word-night-i-get-but-fall-is-a-gentle-word/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [A man who can be entertaining for a full day will be in his grave by night-fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/a-man-who-can-be-entertaining-for-a-full-day-will-be-in-his-grave-by/)

[Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/)

> [As night-fall does not come at once, neither does oppression...It is in such twilight that we all must be aware of change in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/as-night-fall-does-not-come-at-once-neither-does-oppression-it-is-in/)

[William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/)

> [I waited painfully. For night to fall again. Trying to silence the fear within me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dream-theater/i-waited-painfully-for-night-to-fall-again-trying-to-silence-the-fear/)

[Dream Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dream-theater/)

> [Grief is a hole you walk around in the daytime and at night you fall into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/grief-is-a-hole-you-walk-around-in-the-daytime-and-at-night-you-fall/)

[Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/)

> [That afternoon the sky was scattered with black clouds galloping in from the sea and clustering over the city. Flashes of lightening echoed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/that-afternoon-the-sky-was-scattered-with-black-clouds-galloping-in/)

[Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/)

> [Because tonight will be the night That I will fall for you over again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-tonight-will-be-the-night-that-i-will-fall-for-you-over-again/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The world know it not; but you, Autumn, I confess it: your wind at night-fall stabs deep into my heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/the-world-know-it-not-but-you-autumn-i-confess-it-your-wind-at-night/)

[Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/)

## 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. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/go-into-emptiness-strike-voids-bypass-what-he-defends-hit-him-where/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [“In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-a-similar-way-the-art-of-war-pinpoints-anger-and-greed-as/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-people-being-regarded-as-the-essential-part-of-the-state-and-food/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/therefore-the-good-fighter-will-be-terrible-in-his-onset-and-prompt/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [“So long as victory can be attained,  stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/so-long-as-victory-can-be-attained-stupid-haste-is-preferable-to/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [“You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/you-can-ensure-the-safety-of-your-defense-if-you-only-hold-positions/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-when-able-to-attack-we-must-seem-unable-when-using-our-forces/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-we-do-not-wish-to-fight-we-can-prevent-the-enemy-from-engaging-us/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-general-who-wins-a-battle-makes-many-calculations-in-his-temple/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/in-all-fighting-the-direct-method-may-be-used-for-joining-battle-but/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [“To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/to-begin-by-bluster-but-afterwards-to-take-fright-at-the-enemy-s/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [ They \[spies\] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/they-spies-cannot-be-properly-managed-without-benevolence-and/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

[Explore all 685 Sun Tzu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sun Tzu"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable-as-night-and-when-you-move/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable-as-night-and-when-you-move/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/sun-tzu-283_business_let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable_2496709.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/sun-tzu-283_business_let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable_2496709.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/sun-tzu-283_business_let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable_2496709.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” — Sun Tzu",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Sun Tzu",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Let your plans be dark and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable-as-night-and-when-you-move/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/let-your-plans-be-dark-and-impenetrable-as-night-and-when-you-move/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
