Ancient Eastern Philosophers

Quotes from Miyamoto Musashi, Sun Tzu, Laozi.

Ancient Eastern Philosophers' Quotes

You should not have any special fondness for a particular weapon, or anything else, for that matter. Too much is the same as not enough. Without imitating anyone else, you should have as much weaponry as suits you.

—Miyamoto Musashi

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

True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way.

—Laozi

Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons.

And they will follow you into the deepest valley.

—Sun Tzu

Those who talk don’t know.

—Laozi

The world is formed from the void, like utensils from a block of wood.

—Laozi

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

Not seeking, not expecting, she is present, and can welcome all things.

—Laozi

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

—Sun Tzu

You can’t know it, but you can be it, at ease in your own life.

—Laozi

The Tao is infinite, eternal.

—Laozi

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

The moral man does something, and when no one responds he rolls up his sleeves and uses force.

—Laozi

The Tao follows only itself.

—Laozi