Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period of 771 to 256 BCE.
Sun Tzu Quotes
Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.
—Sun Tzu
The worst calamities that befall an army arise from hesitation.
—Sun Tzu
The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
—Sun Tzu
In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy’s country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
—Sun Tzu
The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.
—Sun Tzu
The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.
—Sun Tzu
He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
—Sun Tzu
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
—Sun Tzu
Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger.
—Sun Tzu
If fighting is sure to result in victory, than 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.
—Sun Tzu
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
—Sun Tzu
He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.
—Sun Tzu
Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.
—Sun Tzu
He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
—Sun Tzu
Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons.
And they will follow you into the deepest valley.
—Sun Tzu
When you surround an army, leave an outlet free.
Do not press a desperate foe too hard.
—Sun Tzu
When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil.
When full, starve them.
When settled, make them move.
—Sun Tzu
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
—Sun Tzu
Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.
—Sun Tzu
In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.
—Sun Tzu
Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack.
—Sun Tzu
Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
—Sun Tzu
So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.
—Sun Tzu
Convince your enemy that he will gain very little by attacking you; this will diminish his enthusiasm.
—Sun Tzu
The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
—Sun Tzu
Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength.
—Sun Tzu
Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.
—Sun Tzu
Know yourself and you will win all battles.
—Sun Tzu
Great results, can be achieved with small forces.
—Sun Tzu
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
—Sun Tzu