Sun Tzu Quotes - Page 18

Quotes about:

The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat: - let such a one be dismissed!

Sun Tzu

Art Of War, Army, Suffering

Sun Tzu, General Press (2016). “The Art of War”, p.7, GENERAL PRESS

7 Copy quote
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

Fighting, Squares, Rocks

Sunzi, Sun-Tzu, Thomas Cleary (1998). “The illustrated art of war”, Shambhala Pubns

6 Copy quote
I will be able to forecast which side will be victorious and which defeated.

Sun Tzu

Able, Sides, Defeated

7 Copy quote
When a general, unable to estimate the enemy's strength, allows an inferior force to engage a larger one, or hurls a weak detachment against a powerful one, and neglects to place picked soldiers in the front rank, the result must be rout.

Sun Tzu

Art, Powerful, War

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

14 Copy quote
To maintain an army at a distance causes the people to be impoverished.

Sun Tzu

Distance, Army, People

Sun Tzu (2014). “The Art of War”, p.9, Open Road Media

10 Copy quote
Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

Sun Tzu

War, Doe, Defense

Sun Tzu (2012). “Sun Tzu's The Art of War: Bilingual Edition Complete Chinese and English Text”, p.88, Tuttle Publishing

10 Copy quote
If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented. The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless: if it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it nor the wise make plans against it.

Sun Tzu

Wise, Military, War

7 Copy quote
To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful... It does not take much strength to lift a hair, it does not take sharp eyes to see the sun and moon, it does not take sharp ears to hear the thunderclap.

Sun Tzu

War, Eye, Moon

Sunzi, Sun Tzu, Thomas Cleary (1991). “The art of war”, Shambhala Pubns

10 Copy quote
It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see the outward aspects, none understands the way in which I have created victory.

Sun Tzu

Victory, Doe, Shapes

6 Copy quote
At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.

Sun Tzu

Running, Art Of War, Giving

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

7 Copy quote
The proximity of an army causes prices to go up; and high prices cause people's substance to be drained away. When their substance is drained away, they will be afflicted by heavy exactions. With this loss of substance and exhaustion of strength, the homes of the people will be stripped bare, and their incomes dissipated.

Sun Tzu

Home, Army, Loss

Sun Tzu (2016). “The Art of War”, p.11, Xist Publishing

17 Copy quote
The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.

Sun Tzu

Wise, Art, War

Sun Tzu, Shang Yang (1997). “The Art of War”, p.32, Wordsworth Editions

9 Copy quote
All battles are won before they start.

Sun Tzu

Educational, Battle, Management

7 Copy quote
The sovereign must have full knowledge of the activities of the five sorts of agents. This knowledge must come from the double agents, and therefore it is mandatory that they be treated with the utmost liberality.

Sun Tzu

Agents, Sovereign, Treated

8 Copy quote
When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce. If the enemy's troops march up angrily and remain facing ours for a long time without either joining battle or removing demands, the situation is one that requires great vigilance and circumspection. To begin by bluster, but afterward to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Numbers

7 Copy quote
We cannot enter into alliance with neighbouring princes until we are acquainted with their designs. We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country - its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps. We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides.

Sun Tzu

Country, Art, War

Sun Tzu, Niccolo Machiavelli (2013). “The Complete Art of War”, p.65, Simon and Schuster

8 Copy quote
To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful. Everyone calls victory in battle good, but it is not really good.

Sun Tzu

War, Victory, Battle

Sun Tzu (2005). “The Art of War”, p.90, Shambhala Publications

7 Copy quote
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

Country, Art, War

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

7 Copy quote
In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.

Sun Tzu

Art, Fighting, Moon

Sun Tzu (2013). “The Art of War”, p.22, Simon and Schuster

10 Copy quote
Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Ruins

Sun Tzu, Shang Yang (1997). “The Art of War”, p.25, Wordsworth Editions

8 Copy quote
When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped to go rolling down.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Moving

Sun Tzu, Julius Caesar, Einhard, Niccolò Machiavelli, Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “Strategy Six Pack”, p.15, Lulu.com

7 Copy quote
Now an army is exposed to six several calamities, not arising from natural causes, 1 but from faults for which the general is responsible. These are: (1) Flight; (2) insubordination; (3) collapse; (4) ruin; (5) disorganisation; (6) rout.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Army

Sun Tzu (2012). “Sun Tzu's The Art of War: Bilingual Edition Complete Chinese and English Text”, p.137, Tuttle Publishing

65 Copy quote
From a position of this sort, if the enemy is unprepared, you may sally forth and defeat him. But if the enemy is prepared for your coming, and you fail to defeat him, then, return being impossible, disaster will ensue.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Enemy

Sun Tzu (2016). “The Art of War”, p.54, Xist Publishing

7 Copy quote
The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.

Sun Tzu

Bird, Rising, Flight

Sun Tzu, Julius Caesar, Einhard, Niccolò Machiavelli, Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “Strategy Six Pack”, p.21, Lulu.com

6 Copy quote
In executing an Artful Strategy: When ten times greater, surround them; When five times greater, attack them; When two times greater, scatter them. If the opponent is ready to challenge: When fewer in number, be ready to evade them; When unequal to the match, be ready to avoid them. Even when the smaller opponents have a strong position, the larger opponent will capture them.

Sun Tzu

Strong, Two, Numbers

7 Copy quote

You May Also Like:

Sun Bin

Laozi

Carl von Clausewitz

Confucius

Niccolo Machiavelli

Miyamoto Musashi

Sun Tzu

Follow

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

Popular Topics