Sun Tzu Quotes - Page 3

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

Wait by the river long enough and the body of your enemy will float by you.

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

Do not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy's terms.

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

He who wishes to fight must first count the cost

Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.

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

Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.

These are the six ways of courting defeat - neglect to estimate the enemy's strength; want of authority; defective training; unjustifiable anger; nonobservance of discipline; failure to use picked men.

The line between disorder and order lies in logistics.

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

All war is based on deception.

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

You cannot know if you will be successful or not. You can only prepare for battle and it must be done with all of your heart and with all of your consciousness. In that manner, you will have an edge.

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

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.

If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.

First learn to become invincible, then wait for your enemy's moment of vulnerability.

He who relies solely on warlike measures shall be exterminated; he who relies solely on peaceful measures shall perish.

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

A battle avoided cannot be lost.

Unless you enter the tiger's lair, you cannot get hold of the tiger's cub's.

Don't flail against the world, use it. Flexibility is the operative principle in the art of war.

The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands