Sun Tzu Quotes

And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him.

Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement.

If you fight with all your might, there is a chance of life; where as death is certain if you cling to your corner

Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength.

Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.

It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.

If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.

The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.

If the enemy opens the door, you must race in.

A clever general... avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This is the art of studying moods. Disciplined and calm, he awaits the appearance of disorder and hubbub among the enemy. This is the art of retaining self-possession.

He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.

And therefore only the enlightened sovereign and the worthy general who are able to use the most intelligent people as agents are certain to achieve great things.

Of all those in the army close to the commander none is more intimate than the secret agent; of all rewards none more liberal than those given to secret agents; of all matters none is more confidential than those relating to secret operations.

To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

If this is long delayed, weapons are blunted and morale depressed.

To capture the enemy's entire army is better than to destroy it; to take intact a regiment, a company, or a squad is better than to destroy them. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the supreme of excellence. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence.

Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuver. What is difficult about maneuver is to make the devious route the most direct and to turn misfortune to advantage.

The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.

All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, defend against them; if weaker, be able to avoid them.

Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.

The Art of War is self-explanatory

When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become, as it were, like rolling logs or stones... The energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height.

Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.

Being unconquerable lies with yourself; being conquerable lies with your enemy.

The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.

Convince your enemy that he will gain very little by attacking you; this will diminish his enthusiasm

If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is death.

Perfection in war lies in so sapping your opponents will that he surrenders without fighting.

Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise, for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.

Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.

Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace; divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is master of his enemy's fate.

In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power.

Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.

From a position of this sort, if the enemy is unprepared, you may sally forth and defeat him. But if the enemy is prepared for your coming, and you fail to defeat him, then, return being impossible, disaster will ensue.

Thus, though I have heard of successful military operations that were clumsy but swift, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.

The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.

O divine art of subtlety and secrecy!

Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never peril.

Of all those in the army close to the commander, none is more intimate than the secret agent.

War is a matter of vital importance to the state; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied.

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.

Great results, can be achieved with small forces.

Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re-occupy is called entangling.