Sun Tzu Quotes - Page 15

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An army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water avoids the heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids strength and strikes weakness.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Army

Sun Tzu, Shang Yang (1997). “The Art of War”, p.33, Wordsworth Editions

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Should the enemy forestall you in occupying a pass, do not go after him if the pass is fully garrisoned, but only if it is weakly garrisoned.

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 are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.

Sun Tzu

Military, Art Of War, Hue

Lionel Giles', Sun Tzu (1910). “Sun Tzu's Art of War - Illustrated & Translated for Modern Readers”, p.14, SJ Creations Tokyo

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When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but continues his preparations, he will advance. When their language is deceptive but the enemy pretentiously advances, he will retreat. When the envoys speak in apologetic terms, he wishes a respite. When without a previous understanding the enemy asks for a truce, he is plotting. When the enemy sees an advantage but does not advance to seize it, he is fatigued.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Humble

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So it is that good warriors take their stance on ground where they cannot lose, and do not overlook conditions that make an opponent prone to defeat.

Sun Tzu

Athlete, Warrior, Opponents

Sun Tzu (2005). “The Art of War”, p.93, Shambhala Publications

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When orders are consistently trustworthy and observed, the relationship of a commander with his troops is satisfactory.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Order

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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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When campaigning, be swift as the wind; in leisurely march, majestic as the forest; in raiding and plundering, like fire; in standing, firm as the mountains. As unfathomable as the clouds, move like a thunderbolt.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Moving

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To conquer the enemy without resorting to war is the most desirable. The highest form of generalship is to conquer the enemy by strategy.

Sun Tzu

War, Enemy, Conquer

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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

War, Army, Two

Sun Tzu, General Press (2016). “The Art of War”, p.13, GENERAL PRESS

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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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If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Drinking

Sun Tzu, Niccolo Machiavelli (2013). “The Complete Art of War”, p.53, Simon and Schuster

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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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Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.

Sun Tzu

Art, Military, War

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

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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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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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Rapidity is the essence of war.

Sun Tzu

War, Essence

Sun Tzu (2012). “The Art of War”, p.180, e-artnow

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

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Long

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Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled against another ten times its size, the result will be the flight of the former.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Size

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

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Thus, though I have heard of successful military operations that were clumsy but swift, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.

Sun Tzu

Art, Military, War

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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

Army, Victory, Battle

Sun Tzu (2016). “The Art of War”, p.20, Xist Publishing

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If I wish to engage, then the enemy, for all his high ramparts and deep moat, cannot avoid engagement; I attack that which he is obliged to rescue.

Sun Tzu

War, Enemy, Wish

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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

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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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It is imperative to contest all factions for complete victory, so the army is not garrisoned and the profit can be total. This is the law of strategic siege.

Sun Tzu

War, Army, Law

Sun Tzu (2005). “The Art of War”, p.75, Shambhala Publications

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

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