Quotes by Sun Tzu

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.

— Sun Tzu

Courage

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.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

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.

— Sun Tzu

Life

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

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.

— Sun Tzu

Courage

He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

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.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

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.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

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.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

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

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

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.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

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.

— Sun Tzu

Courage

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.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom

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.

— Sun Tzu

Wisdom