--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Supreme excellence consists in breaking…" description: "\"Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.\" — Sun Tzu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/sun-tzu-283_excellence_supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking_1882880.jpg" --- # Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's… ![“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/sun-tzu-283_excellence_supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking_1882880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/sun-tzu-283_excellence_supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking_1882880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/sun-tzu-283_excellence_supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking_1882880.jpg) > “Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.” [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. Winning without conflict is the highest form of strategy, achieving goals while preserving resources and lives. **In simple terms:** Win without fighting. Key Takeaway Seek non‑violent solutions. Themes strategy conflict leadership Mood determined strategic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business negotiations - diplomacy - legal disputes - team management Key Concepts Sun Tism principles of war Questions to Reflect On - Can you resolve a current conflict without confrontation? - What alternatives exist when dialogue fails? A Different Perspective May be unrealistic when opponent is unwilling to negotiate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaking Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-enemy-669127/) [Enemy Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-resistance-2671055/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Resistance Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance-fighting-669125/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Supreme Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-excellence-669124/) ## Related quotes > [“Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/supreme-excellence-consists-of-breaking-the-enemy-s-resistance/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. 3.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-to-fight-and-conquer-in-all-your-battles-is-not-supreme/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/to-fight-and-conquer-in-all-our-battles-is-not-supreme-excellence/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [ “\[T\]o fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/t-o-fight-and-conquer-in-all-your-battles-is-not-supreme-excellence/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The supreme excellence is not to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles. The supreme excellence is to subdue the armies of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-supreme-excellence-is-not-to-win-a-hundred-victories-in-a-hundred/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Simplicity in character, in manners, in style; in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/simplicity-in-character-in-manners-in-style-in-all-things-the-supreme/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“The enemy is Resistance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-enemy-is-resistance/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Commitment is the enemy of resistance, for it is the serious promise to press on, to get up, no matter how many times you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/commitment-is-the-enemy-of-resistance-for-it-is-the-serious-promise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/in-character-in-manner-in-style-in-all-things-the-supreme-excellence/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) ## 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. 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The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/) [Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/) > [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) [Philip Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-selznick/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sun Tzu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking-the-enemy-s-resistance/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Excellence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking-the-enemy-s-resistance/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/sun-tzu-283_excellence_supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking_1882880.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/sun-tzu-283_excellence_supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking_1882880.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/sun-tzu-283_excellence_supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking_1882880.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.” — 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": "Supreme excellence consists in breaking the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking-the-enemy-s-resistance/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/supreme-excellence-consists-in-breaking-the-enemy-s-resistance/#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 } } ] } ```