Top 466 Quotes & Sayings by Sun Tzu - Page 3

When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.

So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.

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

Thus those skilled in war subdue the enemy's army without battle .... They conquer by strategy.

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

Those who do not know the plans of competitors cannot prepare alliances. Those who do not know the lay of the land cannot maneuver their forces. Those who do not use local guides cannot take advantage of the ground.

Until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared

Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.

In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.

When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are not clear and distinct; when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganization.

Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.

If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.

The value of time, that is of being a little ahead of your opponent, often provides greater advantage than superior numbers or greater resources.

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight.

If their forces are substantial, prepare for them; if their forces are strong, avoid them.

Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.

You can ensure the success of your attacks if you only attack places that are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. Therefore, that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

So a military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape: the ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius.

What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.

Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards... Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.

He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.

Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.

Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.

In conflict, straightforward actions generally lead to engagement, surprising actions generally lead to victory.

Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength.

It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order.

The nature of war is constant change.

Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small. The difficult things in this world must be done while they are easy, the greatest things in the world must be done while they are still small. For this reason sages never do what is great, and this is why they achieve greatness.

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

Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy; forceful execution of even a poor plan can often bring victory.

What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

He who knows things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated.

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

When I have won a victory I do not repeat my tactics but respond to circumstances in an infinite variety of ways.

Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.

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

If you follow the enemy's shifts and changes, you can always find a way to win.

The essential factor of military success is speed, that is taking advantage of others' unpreparedness or lack of foresight, their failure to catch up, going by routes they do not expect, attacking where they are not on guard. This you cannot accomplish with hesitation.

Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.

So the principles of warfare are: Do not depend on the enemy not coming, but depend on our readiness against him. Do not depend on the enemy not attacking, but depend on our position that cannot be attacked.

He who wishes to fight must first count the cost

The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent's strategy.

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

Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve.

One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant.

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

Be where your enemy is not.

What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.

Hostile armies may face each other for years, striving for the victory which is decided in a single day. This being so, to remain in ignorance of the enemy's condition simply because one grudges the outlay of a hundred ounces of silver in honors and emoluments, is the height of inhumanity.

What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed: One cannot afford to neglect opportunity.

Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.

The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.

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

The supreme excellence is not to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles. The supreme excellence is to subdue the armies of your enemies without having to fight them.

The successful person has unusual skill at dealing with conflict and ensuring the best outcome for all.

Know thy enemy and know thy self and you will win a hundred battles.

Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain

On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt not. On contentious ground, attack not. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies. On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keep steadily on the march. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate ground, fight.

There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.