Sun Tzu Quotes

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.

It is a doctrine of war not to assume the enemy will not come, but rather to rely on one's readiness to meet him; not to presume that he will not attack, but rather to make one's self invincible.

In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.

Generally, management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization. And to control many is the same as to control few. This is a matter of formations and signals.

At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.

First learn to become invincible, then wait for your enemy's moment of vulnerability.

When you shoot a bow and arrow, you aim at the clouds, not because you expect to hit them, but so that you may reach the distant target on the ground.

Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.

According to my assessment, even if you have many more troops than others, how can that help you to victory?

Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.

Attack the enemy's strategy.

Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this.

With regard to narrow passes, if you can occupy them first, let them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy.

The sovereign must have full knowledge of the activities of the five sorts of agents. This knowledge must come from the double agents, and therefore it is mandatory that they be treated with the utmost liberality.

Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.

It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see the outward aspects, none understands the way in which I have created victory.

If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.

The art of giving orders is not to try to rectify the minor blunders and not be swayed by petty doubts.

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

One who speaks deferentially but increases his preparations will advance. One who speaks belligerently and advances hastily will retreat.

To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape.

One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all.

O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands.

Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.

To capture an enemies army is better than to destroy it.

Birds rising in flight is a sign that the enemy is lying in ambush; when the wild animals are startled and flee he is trying to take you unaware.

Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men.

Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding.

Now a soldier's spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is only on returning to camp.

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

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 will become double agents and available for our service. It is through the information brought by the double agent that we are able to acquire and employ local and inward spies. It is owing to his information, again, that we can cause the doomed spy to carry false tidings to the enemy.

The end and aim of spying in all its five varieties is knowledge of the enemy; and this knowledge can only be derived, in the first instance, from the converted spy. Hence it is essential that the converted spy be treated with the utmost liberality.

Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow.

He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.

Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.

All war is deception.

And regulation entails organizational effectiveness, a chain of command, and a structure for logistical support.

Appraise war in terms of the fundamental factors. The first of these factors is moral influence.

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.

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack.. the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.

If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose.

In desperate position, you must fight.

When the leader is morally weak and his discipline not strict, when his instructions and guidance are not enlightened, when there are no consistent rules, neighboring rulers will take advantage of this.

He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.