Sun Tzu Quotes

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

Confidence Justice Mind People Strategy War
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.
SUN TZU

Business Nature Soldier Strategy Victory War
Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.
SUN TZU

Business Goodness Service Strategy War
Be where your enemy is not.
SUN TZU

Enemy One Liner Strategy War
Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.
SUN TZU

Follow Love Men Respect Son Treat Valley
If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
SUN TZU

Business Irritation Opponent Strategy War Weakness
It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.
SUN TZU

Achievement Army Business Intelligence Strategy War
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.
SUN TZU

Advantage Business Gain Position Strategy War
It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy.
SUN TZU

Enemy Friendship Learning Lesson Love War
The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.
SUN TZU

Battle Business Greatness One Liner Requirement Success Victory
If his forces are united, separate them.
SUN TZU

Business Force Separate Strategy United War
If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.
SUN TZU

Business Enemy Ignorance Strategy War Yourself
Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
SUN TZU

Appreciate Benefit Business Evil Strategy War
The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.
SUN TZU

Business Confuse Enemy Secret Strategy War
You have to believe in yourself.
SUN TZU

Be Yourself Believe Confidence Inspirational Success
In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack–the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
SUN TZU

Attack Battle Business Combination Strategy War
Every battle is won before it’s ever fought.
SUN TZU

Battle Business Fight Strategy Success War
There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.
SUN TZU

Combination Flavour Inspirational Taste
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

Battle Inspirational Life Strategy Success War
There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
SUN TZU

Combination Hear Inspirational Melody Music Success
The worst calamities that befall an army arise from hesitation.
SUN TZU

Army Business Hesitation Strategy War Worst
Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength.
SUN TZU

Business Courage Fear Strategy Strength Weak
Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.
SUN TZU

Break Enemy Excellence Fight Politics Resistance Success War
When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.
SUN TZU

Army Business Desperate Leaving Strategy Surround War

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