--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With regard to precipitous heights, if…" description: "\"With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/sun-tzu-283_adversaries_with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-yo_222200.jpg" --- # With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand… ![“With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.” quote by Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/sun-tzu-283_adversaries_with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-yo_222200.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/sun-tzu-283_adversaries_with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-yo_222200.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/sun-tzu-283_adversaries_with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-yo_222200.jpg) > “With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.” [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. Control strategic positions before the enemy arrives to gain advantage and force them into a disadvantageous approach. **In simple terms:** Take high ground early to dominate. Key Takeaway Secure advantageous positions early. Themes strategy leadership preparation Mood strategic confident Type military business When to use this quote - business negotiations - sports competition - military campaigns Key Concepts military tactics competitive advantage Questions to Reflect On - What high ground can you claim now? - How do you anticipate opponent moves? A Different Perspective Requires accurate intelligence; misreading opponent can backfire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversaries/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art of war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-war/) [Wait for him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait-for-him/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The beanball is one of the meanest things on Earth and no decent fellow would use it. The beanball is a potential murderer. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-johnson/the-beanball-is-one-of-the-meanest-things-on-earth-and-no-decent/) [Walter Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-johnson/) > [ I know that \[Mike\] Tyson talked about wanting to eat his opponent's children, but I don't think he ever had the balls to do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-know-that-mike-tyson-talked-about-wanting-to-eat-his-opponent-s/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Again I take a taxi to Clichy address, but feel that I do not want to go on loving Henry more actively than he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/again-i-take-a-taxi-to-clichy-address-but-feel-that-i-do-not-want-to/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Today, Iraq is an immediate danger to our nation. This time, we cannot wait. We cannot wait for Saddam Hussein to take a devastating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/today-iraq-is-an-immediate-danger-to-our-nation-this-time-we-cannot/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [Man must at all costs overcome the Earth's gravity and have, in reserve, the space at least of the Solar System. All kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/man-must-at-all-costs-overcome-the-earth-s-gravity-and-have-in/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [Long ago, men went to sea, and women waited for them, standing on the edge of the water, scanning the horizon for the tiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/long-ago-men-went-to-sea-and-women-waited-for-them-standing-on-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [A free theologian works in communication with other theologians...He waits for them and asks them to wait for him. Our sadly lacking yet indispensable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/a-free-theologian-works-in-communication-with-other-theologians-he/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Really, a young Atheist cannot guard his faith too carefully. Dangers lie in wait for him on every side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/really-a-young-atheist-cannot-guard-his-faith-too-carefully-dangers/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Finished, it's finished, nearly finished, it must be nearly finished. Grain upon grain, one by one, and one day, suddenly, there's a heap, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/finished-it-s-finished-nearly-finished-it-must-be-nearly-finished/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [God is bigger than time, dates, and appointments. He wants you to move through this day with a quiet heart, an inward assurance that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-lessin/god-is-bigger-than-time-dates-and-appointments-he-wants-you-to-move/) [Roy Lessin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-lessin/) > [What men have seen they know; But what shall come hereafter No man before the event can see, Nor what end waits for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/what-men-have-seen-they-know-but-what-shall-come-hereafter-no-man/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [The modern fairy tale ending is the reverse of the traditional one: A woman does not wait for Prince Charming to bring her happiness;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-faludi/the-modern-fairy-tale-ending-is-the-reverse-of-the-traditional-one-a/) [Susan Faludi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-faludi/) > [When we surrender to His timing, He does mighty things in and for us, according to His will and His timing. God acts on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/when-we-surrender-to-his-timing-he-does-mighty-things-in-and-for-us/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [If you want to know how to make people shun you and laugh at you behind your back and even despise you, here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-want-to-know-how-to-make-people-shun-you-and-laugh-at-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [I find my Lord Jesus cometh not in the precise way that I lay wait for Him. He hath a manner of His own.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/i-find-my-lord-jesus-cometh-not-in-the-precise-way-that-i-lay-wait/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) ## 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 Adversaries quotes > [In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-all-matters-of-opinion-our-adversaries-are-insane/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Inanimate objects are sometimes parties to litigation. A ship has a legal personality, a fiction found useful for maritime purposes. The corporation sole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/inanimate-objects-are-sometimes-parties-to-litigation-a-ship-has-a/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [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/) > [Marriage, in my view, should be a balanced stalemate between equal adversaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/marriage-in-my-view-should-be-a-balanced-stalemate-between-equal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's like I'm married to the silencer, Until I file for divorce and release my ex-calibers. Do art with your arteries, place that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharoahe-monch/it-s-like-i-m-married-to-the-silencer-until-i-file-for-divorce-and/) [Pharoahe Monch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharoahe-monch/) > [Educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations. Man's capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/educational-exchange-can-turn-nations-into-people-contributing-as-no/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Obama is hardly the first president to seek rapprochement with our adversaries and reconciliation with our enemies, of course. But his determination to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-hayes/obama-is-hardly-the-first-president-to-seek-rapprochement-with-our/) [Stephen F. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-hayes/) > [It is better to make friends than adversaries of a conquered race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/it-is-better-to-make-friends-than-adversaries-of-a-conquered-race/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [“The most courageous act in politics is to try to understand your opponent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-most-courageous-act-in-politics-is-to-try-to-understand-your/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [My adversary is the world of finance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/my-adversary-is-the-world-of-finance/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [Often GOP political strategy seems like the human wave theory of the Chinese military translated to politics. Where Beijing uses masses of soldiers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/often-gop-political-strategy-seems-like-the-human-wave-theory-of-the/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Our ability to fall in love requires enough comfort with our masculinity to join it with someone's femininity and feel enhanced. .. . If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/our-ability-to-fall-in-love-requires-enough-comfort-with-our/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [You negotiate in bad faith if you do not forgive your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/you-negotiate-in-bad-faith-if-you-do-not-forgive-your-adversary/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [We should seek after spiritual gifts. They can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/we-should-seek-after-spiritual-gifts-they-can-lead-us-to-god-they-can/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) [Browse all 446 Adversaries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversaries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sun Tzu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-you-are-beforehand-with-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversaries" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-you-are-beforehand-with-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/sun-tzu-283_adversaries_with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-yo_222200.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/sun-tzu-283_adversaries_with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-yo_222200.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/sun-tzu-283_adversaries_with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-yo_222200.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised…” — 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": "With regard to precipitous heights, if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-you-are-beforehand-with-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/with-regard-to-precipitous-heights-if-you-are-beforehand-with-your/#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 } } ] } ```