Ancient Eastern Philosophers

To become the enemy, see yourself as the enemy of the enemy.

—Miyamoto Musashi

True straightness seems crooked.

—Laozi

Therefore the Master says: I let go of the law, and people become honest.

—Laozi

The Tao doesn’t take sides; it gives birth to both good and evil.

—Laozi

You have to believe in yourself.

—Sun Tzu

The Tao never does anything, yet through it all things are done.

—Laozi

When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.

—Laozi

In all things have no preferences.

—Miyamoto Musashi

Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.

—Sun Tzu

Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live.

When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory.

—Sun Tzu

You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.

—Sun Tzu

Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.

—Sun Tzu

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.

—Sun Tzu

Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.

—Sun Tzu

It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

—Sun Tzu

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

—Sun Tzu

He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.

—Sun Tzu

There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.

—Sun Tzu

Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.

—Sun Tzu

What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.

—Sun Tzu

The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.

—Sun Tzu

Be where your enemy is not.

—Sun Tzu

Opportunities multiply as they are seized.

—Sun Tzu

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.

—Sun Tzu

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

—Sun Tzu

Never venture, never win!

—Sun Tzu

The wise warrior avoids the battle.

—Sun Tzu

If your opponent is of choleric temper, irritate him.

—Sun Tzu

If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.

—Sun Tzu

If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.

—Sun Tzu