Sun Tzu quote about spirit from 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.
pick facebookpinterest picture source

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 (5th century BC). copy citation

edit
Author Sun Tzu
Source The Art of War
Topic spirit army morale command
Date 5th century BC
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by Lionel Giles
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17405/17405-h/17405-h.htm

Context

“A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind.
28. Now a soldier's spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is bent only on returning to camp.
29. A clever general, therefore, 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.
30. Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorder and hubbub amongst the enemy:—this is the art of retaining self-possession.
31. To be near the goal while the enemy is still far from it, to wait at ease while the enemy is toiling and struggling, to be well-fed while the enemy is famished:—this is the art of husbanding one's strength.” source

Meaning and analysis

write a note
report