In this post, we’ll venture into the world of Sun Tzu quotes, who was a Chinese military strategist, philosopher, and author of the book “The Art of War”.
Sun Tzu (circa 544–496 BCE) also known as Sunzi, is believed to have lived during the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. He was likely born into a military family and received an education in military strategy and philosophy.
His most famous work “The Art of War” (孫子兵法) is one of the most influential works on military strategy and tactics ever written. It covers a wide range of topics, including leadership, the importance of deception, management of resources and more.
Let’s read some of the best Sun Tzu quotes from The Art of War that emphasize the need for strategic thinking, adaptability, and the avoidance of unnecessary conflict.
Famous Sun Tzu Quotes
1. “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
2. “It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy.”
3. “Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.”
4. “When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.”
5. “No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.”
6. “The worst calamities that befall an army arise from hesitation.”
7. “One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all.”
8. “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
Sun Tzu Quotes on Leadership
1. “Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.”
2. “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.”
3. “When one treats people with benevolence, justice, and righteousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders’.”
4. “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.”
5. “If there is disturbance in the camp, the general’s authority is weak. ”
6. “The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.”
Sun Tzu Quotes on Strategy
1. “Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.”
2. “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.”
3. “When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.”
4. “Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.”
5. “Convince your enemy that he will gain very little by attacking you; this will diminish his enthusiasm.”
6. “If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.”
7. “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
8. “Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.”
9. “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear 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.”
Sun Tzu Quotes on War
1. “There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.”
2. “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.”
3. “So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
4. “Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.”
5. “Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.”
Sun Tzu Quotes on Intelligence
1. “When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.”
2. “Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack.”
3. “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.”
4. “If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.”
5. “Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content.”
6. “Whether in an advantageous position or a disadvantageous one, the opposite state should be always present to your mind.”
7. “The wise warrior avoids the battle.”
8. “You have to believe in yourself.”
9. “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”
Sun Tzu Quotes on Life
1. “If you fight with all your might, there is a chance of life; where as death is certain if you cling to your corner.”
2. “But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.”
3. “If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is death.”
Sun Tzu Quotes on Enemy
1. “Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.”
2. “The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”
3. “It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy’s one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.
4. “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.”
5. “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.”
6. “Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
7. “If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”
8. “To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.”
Sun Tzu Quotes on Opportunity
1. “The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.”
2. “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”
3. “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”
Sun Tzu Quotes on Victory
1. “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”
2. “Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.”
3. “If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding.”
4. “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”
Sun Tzu Quotes on Discipline
1. “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.”
2. “Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.”
3. “The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.”
4. “It is the unemotional, reserved, calm, detached warrior who wins, not the hothead seeking vengeance and not the ambitious seeker of fortune.”
5. “Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.”
6. “There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: (1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction; (2) cowardice, which leads to capture; (3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; (4) a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame; (5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.”
7. “Great results, can be achieved with small forces.”
8. “Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength.”
These Sun Tzu quotes from The Art of War provide timeless principles and strategies for achieving victory in warfare, emphasizing the importance of careful planning, flexibility, and understanding the enemy.
The book has been translated into numerous languages and remains a widely studied and respected work on strategy and leadership.
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