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 TZUSupreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.
More Sun Tzu Quotes
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To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
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Who wishes to fight must first count the cost
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To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.
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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.
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It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy.
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Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.
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Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength.
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If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.
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There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
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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.
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Know yourself and you will win all battles
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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.
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Those skilled at making the enemy move do so by creating a situation to which he must conform; they entice him with something he is certain to take, and with lures of ostensible profit they await him in strength.
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Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
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When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.
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Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
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If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
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Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.
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If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.
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If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.
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Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.
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When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.
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Plan for what it is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.
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Do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat.
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Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.
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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.
SUN TZU