Sun Tzu Quotes - Page 4

Those who would wage war, should first eliminate all domestic enemies before proceeding to attack the external foe.

If your enemy is superior, evade him

You can prevent your opponent from defeating you through defense, but you cannot defeat him without taking the offensive.

Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.

Attack the enemy's strategy.

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

If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.

Like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.

Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.

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

Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength.

Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow...they have form but are formless. They are skilled in both planning and adapting and need not fear the result of a thousand battles: for they win in advance, defeating those that have already lost.

When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of its momentum. When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing.

Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he will retreat.

If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is tempermental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

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.

There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: recklessness, which leads to destruction; cowardice, which leads to capture; a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; a delicacy of honour, which is sensitive to shame; over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.

A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.

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

Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.

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

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

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.

Factors in the art of warfare are: First, calculations; second, quantities; third, logistics; fourth, the balance of power; and fifth, the possibility of victory is based on the balance of power.