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The Art of War quotes

Sun Tzu

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“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...” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: (1) He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. (2) He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. (3) He will win whose army is animated by...” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will...” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“If his forces are united, separate them.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“All warfare is based on deception.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“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.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“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.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“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.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“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.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“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.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.” Sun Tzu, The Art of 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.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is insubordination. When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is collapse.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War

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war enemy strength strategy warfare deception attack victory enemies success army defence soldier command defeat cleverness battle weakness knowledge water

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Sun Tzu quotes