“The Art of War: 200 Timeless Sun Tzu Quotes” is a treasure trove of wisdom and insight from the ancient Chinese military strategist. Sun Tzu’s teachings on warfare, strategy, and leadership have transcended time and continue to inspire and guide leaders in various fields. This collection of quotes provides a glimpse into the profound principles of Sun Tzu, offering timeless lessons on tactics, conflict resolution, and the art of decision-making. Whether applied to the battlefield, business, or everyday life, Sun Tzu’s words remain as relevant and powerful today as they were centuries ago.
Sun Tzu Quotes
‘“Knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions can only be obtained from other men.”’
‘“So the important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence.”’
‘“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.”’
‘“There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefitted.”’
‘“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.”’
‘“Do not press an enemy at bay.”’
‘“If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst.”’
‘“When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.”’
‘“Birds rising in flight is a sign that the enemy is lying in ambush; when the wild animals are startled and flee he is trying to take you unaware.”’
‘“Who can determine where one ends and the other begins?”’
‘“And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him.”’
‘“Ground which can be freely traversed by both sides is called accessible.”’
‘“According to my assessment, even if you have many more troops than others, how can that help you to victory?”’
‘“Appraise war in terms of the fundamental factors. The first of these factors is moral influence.”’
‘“Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuvering for advantageous positions.”’
‘“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.”’
‘“If the enemy opens the door, you must race in.”’
‘“When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal.”’
‘“Winning isn’t enough. The acme of all skill is to defeat your enemy before taking the field.”’
‘“Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise, for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.”’
‘“Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity.”’
‘“A wise general makes a point of foraging of the enemy.”’
‘“If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.”’
‘“Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.”’,
‘“Order or disorder depends on organisation; courage or cowardice on circumstances; strength or weakness on dispositions.”’
‘“The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.”’
‘“Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety.”’
‘“In conflict, straightforward actions generally lead to engagement, surprising actions generally lead to victory.”’
‘“Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack.”’
‘“Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.”’
‘“There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.”’
‘“War is a matter of vital importance to the state.”’
‘“Therefore the victories of good warriors are not noted for cleverness or bravery. Therefore their victories in battle are not flukes. Their victories are not flukes because they position themselves where they will surely win, prevailing over those wh.”’
‘“These are six ways of courting defeat, which must be carefully noted by the general who has attained a responsible post.”’
‘“Of old the expert in battle would first make himself invincible and then wait for his enemy to expose his vulnerability.”’
‘“Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled against another ten times its size, the result will be the flight of the former.”’
‘“Know the enemy and know yourself.”’
‘“Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.”’
‘“When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the first move, it is called temporising ground.”’
‘“For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards.”’
‘“To conquer the enemy without resorting to war is the most desirable. The highest form of generalship is to conquer the enemy by strategy.”’
‘“If their forces are substantial, prepare for them; if their forces are strong, avoid them.”’
Art of War Book Quotes
‘“As water shapes its flow in accordance with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the situation of the enemy.”’
‘“Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy’s purpose.”’
‘“Act after having made assessments. The one who first knows the measure of far and near wins – this is the rule of armed struggle.”’
‘“Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.”’
‘“The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.”’
‘“In war, practice dissimulation and you will succeed.”’
‘“Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.”’
‘“Without local guides, your enemy employs the land as a weapon against you.”’
‘“Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.”’
‘“The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands.”’
‘“Victory is the main object in war.”’
‘“If this is long delayed, weapons are blunted and morale depressed.”’
‘“Like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.”’
‘“When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is insubordination. When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is collapse.”’
‘“In desperate position, you must fight.”’
‘“Those who excel in war first cultivate their own humanity and and maintain their laws and institutions. By these means they make their governments invincible.”’
‘“O divine art of subtlety and secrecy!”’
‘“Apparent confusion is a product of good order; apparent cowardice, of courage; apparent weakness, of strength.”’
‘“The art of giving orders is not to try to rectify the minor blunders and not be swayed by petty doubts.”’
‘“In warfare, there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent will succeed and win.”’
‘“When he pretends to flee, do not pursue.”’
‘“If not in the interests of the state, do not act. If you cannot succeed, do not use troops. If you are not in danger, do not fight.”’
‘“If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.”’
‘“It is the business of a general to be serene and inscrutable, impartial and self-controlled.”’
‘“Quickness is the essence of the war.”’
‘“When your opponent gives you an opening, be swift as a hare.”’
‘“Convince your enemy that he will gain very little by attacking you; this will diminish his enthusiasm.”’
Art of War Sayings
‘“A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.”’
‘“Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy.”’
‘“War is a matter of vital importance to the state; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied.”’
‘“Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.”’
‘“The best general is the one who never fights.”’
‘“There is no place where espionage is not possible.”’
‘“Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.”’
‘“One need not destroy one’s enemy. One need only destroy his willingness to engage.”’
‘“In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power.”’
‘“If a battle can not be won do not fight it.”’
‘“The Art of War is self-explanatory.”’
‘“Keep their friends close and their enemies closer.”’
‘“Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.”’
‘“It is more important to outhink your enemy, than to outfight him.”’
‘“Pretend to be weak, so your enemy may grow arrogant.”’
‘“All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.”’
‘“Wheels of justice grind slow but grind fine.”’
‘“Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re-occupy is called entangling.”’
‘“All wars are won or lost before they are ever fought.”’
‘ “When the thunderclap comes, there is no time to cover the ears.”’
‘“If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight.”’
‘“Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength.”’
‘“Don’t flail against the world, use it. Flexibility is the operative principle in the art of war.”’
‘“All warfare is based on deception. If your enemy is superior, evade him. If angry, irritate him. If equally matched, fight and if not: split and re-evaluate.”’
‘“Correct your mistake as soon as you have found it.”’
‘“Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.”’
‘“All warfare is based on deception. There is no place where espionage is not used. Offer the enemy bait to lure him.”’
‘ “A leader leads by example not by force.”’
‘“All war is based on deception.”’
‘“The natural formation of the country is the soldier’s best ally.”’
‘“The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”’
‘“Know the enemy, know yourself; your victory will never be endangered. Know the ground, know the weather; your victory will then be total.”’
‘“Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.”’
‘“Thus, though I have heard of successful military operations that were clumsy but swift, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.”’
‘“Those skilled in attack move as from above the nine-fold heavens. Thus they are capable both of protecting themselves and of gaining complete victory.”’
‘“The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.”’
Sun Tzu Quotations
‘“A sovereign of high character and intelligence must be able to know the right man, should place the responsibility on him, and expect results.”’
‘ “Unless you know the mountains and the forests, the defiles and impasses, the lay of the marshes and swamps, you cannot maneuver with an armed force. Unless you use local guides, you cannot get the advantages of the land.”’
‘ “Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.”’
‘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.”’
‘“Without harmony in the State, no military expedition can be undertaken; without harmony in the army, no battle array can be formed.”’
‘“Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.”’,
‘“A kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.”’
‘“Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute distress.”’
‘“In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.”’
‘“Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.”’
‘“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.”’
‘ “The skilful employer of men will employ the wise man, the brave man, the covetous man, and the stupid man.”’
‘“There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.”’
‘There are routes not to be followed, armies not to be attacked, citadels not to be besieged, territory not to be fought over.”’
‘“The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.”’
‘“Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.”’
‘ “Against those skilled in attack, an enemy does not know where to defend; against the experts in defense, the enemy does not know where to attack.”’
‘“The wise warrior avoids the battle.”’
‘“Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious.”’
‘“Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.”’
‘ “Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.”’
‘“These are the six ways of courting defeat – neglect to estimate the enemy’s strength; want of authority; defective training; unjustifiable anger; nonobservance of discipline; failure to use picked men…”’
‘“Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy’s unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.”’
‘“To Subdue an enemy without fighting is the greatest of skills.”’
‘“What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.”’
‘“If an enemy has alliances, the problem is grave and the enemy’s position strong; if he has no alliances, the problem is minor and the enemy’s position weak.”’
‘“One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.”’
‘“Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.”’
‘“Until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.”’
‘“The line between disorder and order lies in logistics…”’
‘“He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.”’
‘“Sweat more during peace: bleed less during war.”’
‘“Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him.”’
‘“The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed on him.”’
‘“What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy.”’
‘“Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.”’
‘ “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’.”’
‘ “What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.”’
‘“If you fight with all your might, there is a chance of life; where as death is certain if you cling to your corner.”’
‘“When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.”’
‘“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.”’
‘“So a military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape: the ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius.”’
‘“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”’
‘“Do not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy’s terms.”’
‘“When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.”’
‘“The true objective of war is peace.”’
‘“First learn to become invincible, then wait for your enemy’s moment of vulnerability.”’
‘“Great results, can be achieved with small forces.”’
‘ “Know thy self, know thy enemy.”’
‘“If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.”’
‘ “Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”’
‘“He who wishes to fight must first count the cost.”’
‘“Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.”’
‘“A battle avoided cannot be lost.”’
‘“Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”’
‘“Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow.”’
‘“The nature of war is constant change.”’
‘“Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.”’
‘“The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.”’
‘“Be extremely subtle even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent s fate.”’
‘“Plan for what it is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.”’
‘“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”’
‘“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”’
‘“Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.”’
‘“Know yourself and you will win all battles.”’
‘“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”’
‘“All is fair in love and war.”’
‘“If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.”’
‘“Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.”’
‘“One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all.”’
‘“When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.”’
‘“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”’
‘“If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.”’
‘“Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.”’
‘“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”’
‘“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”’
‘“Every battle is won before it is fought.”’
‘“To know your enemy, you must become your enemy.”’
‘“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”’
‘“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”’
‘“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”’
‘ “You have to believe in yourself. ”’
‘“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”’
