Sun Tzu quotes - page 2

Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. (Sun Tzu)
To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence. View quote
Sun Tzu
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. View quote
Sun Tzu
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. View quote
Sun Tzu
It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, defend against them; if weaker, be able to avoid them. View quote
Sun Tzu
Where the army is, prices are high; when prices rise the wealth of the people is exhausted. View quote
Sun Tzu
Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across. View quote
Sun Tzu
In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power. View quote
Sun Tzu
Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price. View quote
Sun Tzu
What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. View quote
Sun Tzu
Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute distress. (Sun Tzu)
When the enemy is at ease, be able to weary him; when well fed, to starve him; when at rest, to make him move. Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you. View quote
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. View quote
Sun Tzu
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. View quote
Sun Tzu
If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete. View quote
Sun Tzu
Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death. View quote
Sun Tzu
All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable when using our forces, we must seem 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. View quote
Sun Tzu
If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if his orders are clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers. View quote
Sun Tzu
If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles. View quote
Sun Tzu
Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain. View quote
Sun Tzu
When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of its momentum. When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing. (Sun Tzu)
What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations. View quote
Sun Tzu
It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle. View quote
Sun Tzu
Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. View quote
Sun Tzu
And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him. View quote
Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu - Image
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
Occupation: Chinese Philosopher
Born: 544 BC
Died: 496 BC
Quotes count: 124
Wikipedia: Sun Tzu

Related authors

Laozi - thumbnail
Laozi  292 
Chinese Philosopher
Carl von Clausewitz - thumbnail
Carl von Clausewitz  95 
German General
Confucius - thumbnail
Confucius  397 
Chinese Philosopher
Niccolò Machiavelli - thumbnail
Niccolò Machiavelli  209 
Italian Diplomat
Miyamoto Musashi - thumbnail
Miyamoto Musashi  128 
Japanese Soldier
Zhuge Liang - thumbnail
Zhuge Liang  1 
Chinese Statesman
Qin Shi Huang - thumbnail
Qin Shi Huang  2 
Emperor
Mencius - thumbnail
Mencius  35 
Chinese Philosopher
Marcus Aurelius - thumbnail
Marcus Aurelius  477 
Roman Emperor
Benjamin Franklin - thumbnail
Benjamin Franklin  687 
American Author