53 Sun Tzu Quotes - Inspirational Quotes at BrainyQuote

Chinese - Philosopher Read full biography

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

You Yourself Fear Battles Enemy

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.

You Yourself Victory Heaven

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

Fight Battles Conquer Excellence

He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

Fight Will Win Who He

The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.

Art War Chance Enemy

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Quickness is the essence of the war.

War Essence Quickness

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

War Victory Battle Who

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

War Enemy Strategy Attack Thus

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

Quality Decision Like Victim

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.

Good Service Country Who

Top 10
Sun Tzu
Quotes

To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.

Victory Excellence See Only

When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.

Enemy Wishes Compliments Sign

The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.

Life Death Art War

Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.

Wise Men Conquer Enemy

A good commander is benevolent and unconcerned with fame.

Good Fame Commander Benevolent

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

Victory Men Conquer See

There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.

War Nation Warfare Instance

The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.

Good Opportunity Enemy Beyond

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.

Battle Temple Who General

Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.

Arrogance Pretend Inferiority His

For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

Battles Skill Fighting Enemy

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.

Secret Army More Matters

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.

You Care Enemy Who

Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.

War Secret Army Operations

If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.

Long Money Soldiers Longevity

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

You Believe Enemy Far Make

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