Sun Tzu Quotes - Page 18

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These are six ways of courting defeat, which must be carefully noted by the general who has attained a responsible post.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Way

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

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On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough; hence the institution of gongs and drums... banners and flags. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular point.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Mean

Sun Tzu (2010). “The Art of War”, p.23, Cosimo, Inc.

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When you do battle, even if you are winning, if you continue for a long time it will dull your forces and blunt you edge...If you keep your armies out in the field for a long time, your supplies will be insufficient. Transportation of provisions itself consumes 20 times the amount transported.

Sun Tzu

Army, Winning, Long

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If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle

Sun Tzu

Military, Art Of War, Warrior

Sun Tzu, Julius Caesar, Einhard, Niccolò Machiavelli, Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “Strategy Six Pack”, p.12, Lulu.com

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Do not press an enemy at bay.

Sun Tzu

Art, War, Enemy

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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

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Subjugating the enemy's army without fighting is the true pinnacle of excellence.

Sun Tzu

Fighting, Army, Enemy

Tzu Sun (1994). “The Art of War”, p.135, Basic Books

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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

War, Victory, Battle

Sun Tzu (2005). “The Art of War”, p.56, Shambhala Publications

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All battles are won before they start.

Sun Tzu

Educational, Battle, Management

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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

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

Sun Tzu

Able, Sides, Defeated

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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