The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
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Quotes by Sun Tzu
Explore 25 verified and sourced quotes attributed to Sun Tzu. Open any quote for its dedicated page, source details and related topics.
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Selected quotes by Sun Tzu
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.
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.
All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.
Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.
He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.
Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.
The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.
If fighting is sure to result in victory, than you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding.
To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.
If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.
Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack.
Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.
Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory.
If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.
Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.
Of all those in the army close to the commander none is more intimate than the secret agent; of all rewards none more liberal than those given to secret agents; of all matters none is more confidential than those relating to secret operations.
Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and you know Earth, you may make your victory complete.
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