Sun Tzu Quotes - Page 14

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By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, the skillful general keeps the enemy without definite knowledge. By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose. At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Army

James Clavell, Sun Tzu (2013). “The Art of War”, p.52, Hachette UK

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Know the enemy and know yourself.

Sun Tzu

Fear, Military, War

The Art of War ch. 3 (translation by Yuan Shibang)

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If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Fighting

Sun Tzu, Niccolo Machiavelli (2013). “The Complete Art of War”, p.30, Simon and Schuster

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Where the army is, prices are high; when prices rise the wealth of the people is exhausted.

Sun Tzu

Army, People, Exhausted

"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, translated by Chow-Hou Wee, (Chapter II), 2003.

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In your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise: which of the two generals has the most ability? on which side is Discipline most rigorously enforced? which army is stronger? on which side are the officers and men more highly trained? in which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?

Sun Tzu

Wise, Art, Military

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Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.

Sun Tzu

Art, Military, War

Lionel Giles', Sun Tzu (1910). “Sun Tzu's Art of War - Illustrated & Translated for Modern Readers”, p.12, SJ Creations Tokyo

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Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Enlightened

Sun Tzu, Julius Caesar, Einhard, Niccolò Machiavelli, Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “Strategy Six Pack”, p.29, Lulu.com

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Those skilled in attack move as from above the nine-fold heavens. Thus they are capable both of protecting themselves and of gaining complete victory.

Sun Tzu

Moving, Heaven, Victory

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Birds rising in flight is a sign that the enemy is lying in ambush; when the wild animals are startled and flee he is trying to take you unaware.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Lying

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The supreme excellence is not to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles. The supreme excellence is to subdue the armies of your enemies without having to fight them.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Fighting

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Apparent confusion is a product of good order; apparent cowardice, of courage; apparent weakness, of strength.

Sun Tzu

Order, Confusion, Weakness

Sun Tzu, Shang Yang (1997). “The Art of War”, p.30, Wordsworth Editions

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Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

Sun Tzu

Art, Military, War

Sun Tzu (2017). “The Art Of War - The Oldest Military Treatise in the World”, p.52, Youcanprint

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Victory is the main object in war.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Victory

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If you are situated at a great distance from the enemy, and the strength of the two armies is equal, it is not easy to provoke a battle, and fighting will be to your disadvantage.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Distance

Sun Tzu, Julius Caesar, Einhard, Niccolò Machiavelli, Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “Strategy Six Pack”, p.23, Lulu.com

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It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.

Sun Tzu

Wise, Wisdom, War

Sun Tzu (2010). “The Art of War”, p.47, Cosimo, Inc.

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It is sufficient to estimate the enemy situation correctly and to concentrate your strength to capture him. There is no more to it than this. He who lacks foresight and underestimates his enemy will surely be captured by him.

Sun Tzu

Enemy, Underestimate, Capture

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If this is long delayed, weapons are blunted and morale depressed.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Long

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the leader of armies is the arbiter of the people's fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril.

Sun Tzu

Army, Fate, Men

Sun Tzu, Julius Caesar, Einhard, Niccolò Machiavelli, Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “Strategy Six Pack”, p.11, Lulu.com

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With regard to narrow passes, if you can occupy them first, let them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Enemy

Lionel Giles', Sun Tzu (1910). “Sun Tzu's Art of War - Illustrated & Translated for Modern Readers”, p.28, SJ Creations Tokyo

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There is nothing more difficult than tactical maneuvering. The difficult consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain. Thus, to take a long and circuitous route after enticing the enemy out of the way, and though starting after him to contrive to reach the goal before him, shows knowledge of the artifice of deviation.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Long

Sun Tzu (2012). “Sun Tzu's The Art of War: Bilingual Edition Complete Chinese and English Text”, p.118, Tuttle Publishing

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With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Waiting

Sun Tzu “Sun Tzu: The Art of War (Illustrated)”, Charles River Editors

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

Sun Tzu

War, Believe, Enemy

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Bestow rewards without respect to customary practice; publish orders without respect to precedent. Thus you may employ the entire army as you would one man.

Sun Tzu

War, Army, Men

Sun Tzu, Shang Yang (1997). “The Art of War”, p.48, Wordsworth Editions

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Should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.

Sun Tzu

Art, Military, War

Sun Tzu, Julius Caesar, Einhard, Niccolò Machiavelli, Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “Strategy Six Pack”, p.16, Lulu.com

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It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus doubled agents are recruited and used.

Sun Tzu

War, Following Instructions, Giving

"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, translated by Chow-Hou Wee, (Chapter XIII), 2003.

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Born: 544 BC
Died: 496 BC
Occupation: Strategist
Cite this Page: Citation

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