Sun Tzu Quotes

206 Sourced Quotes

Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re-occupy is called entangling.

Sun Tzu
It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.

Sun Tzu
Thus those skilled in war subdue the enemy's army without battle.... They conquer by strategy.

Sun Tzu
He who knows things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated.

Sun Tzu
What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

Sun Tzu
The one who figures on victory at headquarters before even doing battle is the one who has the most strategic factors on his side.

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

Sun Tzu
Without harmony in the State, no military expedition can be undertaken; without harmony in the army, no battle array can be formed.

Sun Tzu
He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

Sun Tzu
In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

Sun Tzu
The natural formation of the country is the soldier's best ally; but a power of estimating the adversary, of controlling the forces of victory, and of shrewdly calculating difficulties, dangers and distances, constitutes the test of a great general.

Sun Tzu
Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.

Sun Tzu
He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.

Sun Tzu
The General who in advancing does not seek personal fame, and in withdrawing is not concerned with avoiding punishment, but whose only purpose is to protect the people and promote the best interests of his sovereign, is the precious jewel of the state.

Sun Tzu
Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.

Sun Tzu
If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.

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

Sun Tzu
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.

Sun Tzu
Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.

Sun Tzu
The art of using troops is this:
When ten to the enemy's one, surround him;
When five times his strength, attack him;
If double his strength, divide him;
If equally matched you may engage him;
If weaker numerically, be capable of withdrawing;
And if in all respects unequal, be capable of eluding him, for a small force is but booty for one more powerful.

Sun Tzu
Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.

Sun Tzu
Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all.

Sun Tzu
In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack.. the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.

Sun Tzu
The control of large numbers is possible, and like unto that of small numbers, if we subdivide them.

Sun Tzu
In warfare, first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle; if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute strength alone, victory will no longer be assured.

Sun Tzu
Set the troops to their tasks without imparting your designs.

Sun Tzu
The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.

Sun Tzu
Therefore the victories of good warriors are not noted for cleverness or bravery. Therefore their victories in battle are not flukes. Their victories are not flukes because they position themselves where they will surely win, prevailing over those wh.

Sun Tzu
He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.

Sun Tzu
Getting people to fight by letting the force of momentum work is like rolling logs and rocks. Logs and rocks are still when in a secure place, but roll on an incline; they remain stationary if square, they roll if round. Therefore, when people are skillfully led into battle, the momentum is like that of round rocks rolling down a high mountain -- this is force.

Sun Tzu