Sun Tzu Quotes & Sayings

Therefore, the skillful commander imposes his will on the enemy by making the enemy come to him instead of being brought to the enemy. — Sun Tzu

Bestow rewards without respect to customary practice; publish orders without respect to precedent. Thus you may employ the entire army as you would one man. — Sun Tzu

The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy — Sun Tzu

When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy. — Sun Tzu

What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed: One cannot afford to neglect opportunity. — Sun Tzu

And regulation entails organizational effectiveness, a chain of command, and a structure for logistical support. — Sun Tzu

The end and aim of spying in all its five varieties is knowledge of the enemy; and this knowledge can only be derived, in the first instance, from the converted spy. Hence it is essential that the converted spy be treated with the utmost liberality. — Sun Tzu

Where there are repeated wars, the people are weakened; when they score repeated victories, rulers become haughty. Let haughty rulers command weakened people, and rare is the nation that will not perish as a result. — Sun Tzu

42. If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless.
If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be useless.
43. Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline. This is a certain road to victory.
44. If in training soldiers commands are habitually enforced, the army will be well-disciplined; if not, its discipline will be bad. — Sun Tzu

Master Sun So it is said that if you know others and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know others but know yourself, you win one and lose one; if you do not know others and do not know yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle. — Sun Tzu

When the leader is morally weak and his discipline not strict, when his instructions and guidance are not enlightened, when there are no consistent rules, neighboring rulers will take advantage of this. — Sun Tzu

If the enemy opens the door, you must race in. — Sun Tzu

To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape. — Sun Tzu

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

If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need to do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way. — Sun Tzu

Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all. — Sun Tzu

What enables the enlightened rulers and good generals to conquer the enemy at every move and achieve extraordinary success is foreknowledge. — Sun Tzu

If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him. Though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, in the end it must be captured by the larger force. — Sun Tzu

Put them in a spot where they have no place to go, and they will die before fleeing. — Sun Tzu

If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by. — Sun Tzu

Those who do not know the plans of competitors cannot prepare alliances. Those who do not know the lay of the land cannot maneuver their forces. Those who do not use local guides cannot take advantage of the ground. — Sun Tzu

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

Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you. — Sun Tzu

Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace; divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is master of his enemy's fate. — Sun Tzu

The essential factor of military success is speed, that is taking advantage of others' unpreparedness or lack of foresight, their failure to catch up, going by routes they do not expect, attacking where they are not on guard. This you cannot accomplish with hesitation. — Sun Tzu

If his forces are united, separate them. — Sun Tzu

I have heard that the ancients used bows and arrows to their advantage. — Sun Tzu

Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot. — Sun Tzu

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

If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive;
and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached
to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless. — Sun Tzu

Correct your mistake as soon as you have found it. — Sun Tzu

A leader leads by example not by force. — Sun Tzu

The Wheels of Justice turn slowly but exceedingly fine. — 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

Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength. — Sun Tzu

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. — Sun Tzu

If you do not take opportunity to advance and reward the deserving, your subordinates will not carry out your commands, and disaster will ensue. — Sun Tzu

To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence. — Sun Tzu

Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this. — Sun Tzu

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

The art of giving orders is not to try to rectify the minor blunders and not be swayed by petty doubts. — Sun Tzu

One who has few must prepare against the enemy; one who has many makes the enemy prepare against him. — Sun Tzu

Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety. — Sun Tzu

The worst calamities that befall an army arise from hesitation — Sun Tzu

The wise warrior avoids the battle. — Sun Tzu

If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away. — Sun Tzu

To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength; to see the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight; to hear the noise of thunder is no sign of a quick ear. — Sun Tzu

Prohibit omens altogether. You can best predict your future by controlling it yourself, not by trusting luck or fate to control it. — Sun Tzu

You cannot know if you will be successful or not. You can only prepare for battle and it must be done with all of your heart and with all of your consciousness. In that manner, you will have an edge. — Sun Tzu

15. In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed. — Sun Tzu

There are three avenues of opportunity: events, trends, and conditions. When opportunities occur through events but you are unable to respond, you are not smart. When opportunities become active through a trend and yet you cannot make plans, you are not wise. When opportunities emerge through conditions but you cannot act on them, you are not bold. — Sun Tzu

The Book of Army Management says: On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough: hence the institution of gongs and drums. Nor can ordinary objects be seen clearly enough: hence the institution of banners and flags. — Sun Tzu

On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not. On facile ground, halt not. On contentious ground, attack not. On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies. On serious ground, gather in plunder. In difficult ground, keep steadily on the march. On hemmed-in ground, resort to stratagem. On desperate ground, fight. — Sun Tzu

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

Therefore, to estimate the enemy situation and to calculate distances and the degree of difficulty of the terrain so as to control victory are virtues of the superior general. — 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 combination
they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of
them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted. — Sun Tzu

When you shoot a bow and arrow, you aim at the clouds, not because you expect to hit them, but so that you may reach the distant target on the ground. — Sun Tzu

Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories. — Sun Tzu

More planning shall give greater possibility of victory while less planning, lesser possibility of victory. So how about those without planning? — Sun Tzu

Keep your fiends close and your enemies even closer. — Sun Tzu

Rapidity is the essence of war. — Sun Tzu

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

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

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

Balk the enemy's power; force him to reveal himself. — Sun Tzu

Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient. — Sun Tzu

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

There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited. — Sun Tzu

The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands — Sun Tzu

The general, unable to control his irritation, will launch his men to the assault like swarming ants, with the result that one-third of his men are slain, while the town still remains untaken. Such are the disastrous effects of a siege. — Sun Tzu

How many times in your life could you have abated conflicts if you had taken the time to deliberate on your problems in quiet contemplation - for example, taking a quiet walk - to think about your capabilities and limitations, and the likely gains and losses of taking action? By removing yourself from the immediate, stressful situation, you also take out the emotion that often prompts you to make rash, thoughtless decisions. The — Sun Tzu

There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen. — Sun Tzu

The best military policy is to attack strategies; the next to attack alliances; the next to attack soldiers. — Sun Tzu

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. — Sun Tzu

The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations. — Sun Tzu

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

If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are. — Sun Tzu

Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting. — Sun Tzu

Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory. — Sun Tzu

About Sun Tzu himself this is all that Ssu-ma Ch'ien has to tell us in this chapter. But he proceeds to give a biography of his descendant, Sun Pin, born about a hundred years after his famous ancestor's death, and also the outstanding military genius of his time. — Sun Tzu

When you know both yourself as well as your competition, you are never in danger. To know yourself and not others, gives you half a chance of winning. Knowing neither yourself or your competition puts you in a position to lose. — Sun Tzu

The leader of armies is the arbiter of the people's fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril. — Sun Tzu

Set the troops to their tasks without imparting your designs. — Sun Tzu

Ponder and deliberate before you make a move. — Sun Tzu

When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is COLLAPSE. — Sun Tzu

A good commander is benevolent and unconcerned with fame. — Sun Tzu

Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity; (2) They cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straight forwardness; (3) Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports; (4) Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of warfare; (5) If a secret piece of news is divulged by a spy before the time is ripe, he must be put to death together with the man to whom the secret was told. — Sun Tzu

When strong, appear weak. Brave, appear fearful. Orderly, appear chaotic. Full, appear empty. Wise, appear foolish. Many, appear to be few. Advancing, appear to retreat. Moving quickly, appear to be slow. Taking, appear to leave. In one place, appear to be in another. — Sun Tzu

Hence a commander who advances without any thought of winning personal fame and withdraws in spite of certain punishment, whose only concern is to protect his people and promote the interests of his ruler, is the nation's treasure. Because he fusses over his men as if they were infants, they will accompany him into the deepest valleys; because he fusses over his men as if they were his own beloved sons, they will die by his side. If he is generous with them and yet they do not do as he tells them, if he loves them and yet they do not obey his commands, if he is so undisciplined with them that he cannot bring them into proper order, they will be like spoiled children who can be put to no good use at all. — Sun Tzu

Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements; and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man. — Sun Tzu

Attack by Stratagem — Sun Tzu

Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared. — Sun Tzu

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

It is best to keep one's own state intact; to crush the enemy's state is only second best. — Sun Tzu

The natural formation of the country is the soldier's best ally — Sun Tzu

Like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more. — Sun Tzu

You must be swift as the wind, dense as the forest, rapacious as fire, steadfast like a mountain, mysterious as night and mighty as thunder. — Sun Tzu

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

The control of a large force is the same principle
as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up
their numbers. — Sun Tzu

One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant. — Sun Tzu