Sun Tzu Quotes

Be stern in the council-chamber, [Show no weakness, and insist on your plans being ratified by the sovereign.] so that you may control the situation.

it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.

first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle;  if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute strength alone, victory will no longer be assured

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

Great results, can be achieved with small forces.

We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors.

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

Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose.

mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy

Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.

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 even having to fight them.

Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.

You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.

If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.

Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.

When your army has crossed the border, you should burn your boats and bridges, in order to make it clear to everybody that you have no hankering after home.

In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity

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

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

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.

Know the enemy, know yourself and victory is never in doubt, not in a hundred battles.

Danger has a bracing effect.

There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.

If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him. Though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, in the end it must be captured by the larger force.

When you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from the leeward.

Every battle is won before it is fought.

You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.

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.

War is like a fire - if you do not put it out, it will burn itself out.

who wishes to fight must first count the cost

who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits

If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst. [One may know the condition of a whole army from the behavior of a single man.]

the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.

If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.

Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain secret, which leads to victory;  show your dispositions, and your condition will become patent, which leads to defeat.

Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.

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.

When we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away...

the worst calamities that befall an army arise from hesitation

Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands.

There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general:(1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction;(2) cowardice, which leads to capture;(3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults;(4) a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame;(5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.

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

All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear 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.

If you do not take opportunity   to   advance and reward   the   deserving,   your subordinates will not carry out your commands, and disaster will ensue.

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

For should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.

If his forces are united, separate them.

So long as victory can be attained,  stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness.

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

To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

The art of war is the art of deception.

Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.

When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is INSUBORDINATION.

If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak.