“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

Do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat.

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

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

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

If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.

When your army has crossed the border, you should burn your boats and bridges, in order to make it clear to everybody that you have no hankering after home.

If there is disturbance in the camp, the general’s authority is weak.

Know yourself and you will win all battles

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

All warfare is based on deception.

He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.

To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.

When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.

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.

The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points.

Neither seek nor avoid; take what comes. It is liberty to be affected by nothing. Do not merely endure; be unattached.

Always be ready to speak your mind and a base man will avoid you.

I was always told to avoid being famous just for being famous. That’s something that has always stuck in my mind. I like to work. It helps if you like what you do.

I am not finding pregnancy much of a joy. I am afraid of childbirth, but I am afraid I can’t find a way of avoiding it.

Most of the world’s problems could be avoided if people just said what they fucking meant.

I find very often that very ugly women have really handsome men and vice versa because they don’t have any competition. Sometimes handsome men have avoided me.

In the beginning we must simplify the subject, thus unavoidably falsifying it, and later we must sophisticate away the falsely simple beginning.

You can hold yourself back from the sufferings of the world, that is something you are free to do and it accords with your nature, but perhaps this very holding back is the one suffering you could avoid.