Sun Tzu Quotes

Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.

~ Sun Tzu

There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combinationthey produce more hues than can ever been seen.There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations ofthem yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.

~ Sun Tzu

The wise warrior avoids the battle.

~ Sun Tzu

Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.

~ Sun Tzu

Foreknowledge cannot be gotten from ghosts and spirits, cannot be had by analogy, cannot be found out by calculation. It must be obtained from people, people who know the conditions of the enemy.

~ Sun Tzu

One hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful, subduing the other's military without battle is the most skillful.

~ Sun Tzu

But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being, nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

~ Sun Tzu

Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

~ Sun Tzu

You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.

~ Sun Tzu

Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.

~ Sun Tzu

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

~ Sun Tzu

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

~ Sun Tzu

All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

~ Sun Tzu

If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected .

~ Sun Tzu

To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.

~ Sun Tzu

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

~ Sun Tzu

Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.

~ Sun Tzu

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.

~ Sun Tzu

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.

~ Sun Tzu

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.

~ Sun Tzu

who wishes to fight must first count the cost

~ Sun Tzu

One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all.

~ Sun Tzu

Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.

~ Sun Tzu

When one treats people with benevolence, justice, and righteoousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders'.

~ Sun Tzu

There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.

~ Sun Tzu

Great results, can be achieved with small forces.

~ Sun Tzu

The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.

~ Sun Tzu

If your opponent is of choleric temper,  seek to irritate him.  Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

~ Sun Tzu

Attack is the secret of defense, defense is the planning of an attack.

~ Sun Tzu

He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.

~ Sun Tzu

Be where your enemy is not.

~ Sun Tzu

Bravery without forethought, causes a man to fight blindly and desperately like a mad bull.  Such an opponent, must not be encountered with brute force, but may be lured into an ambush and slain.

~ Sun Tzu

When we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away...

~ Sun Tzu

Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands.

~ Sun Tzu

If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst. [One may know the condition of a whole army from the behavior of a single man.]

~ Sun Tzu

Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.

~ Sun Tzu

Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.

~ Sun Tzu

Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.

~ Sun Tzu

the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

~ Sun Tzu

Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.

~ Sun Tzu