Sun Tzu: Trending quotes (page 4)

Sun Tzu trending quotes. Read the latest quotes in collection
Sun Tzu: 136   quotes 333   likes

“Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.”

Sun Tzu book The Art of War

是故上攻伐谋
The Art of War, Chapter III · Strategic Attack
Variant: Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

War

“Bestow rewards without respect to customary practice; publish orders without respect to precedent. Thus you may employ the entire army as you would one man.”

Sun Tzu

Source: The Art of War, Chapter XI · The Nine Battlegrounds

“Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.”

Sun Tzu

Lionel Giles translation
Source: The Art of War, Chapter VI · Weaknesses and Strengths

Nature , Water , Victory

“Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.”

Sun Tzu

Source: The Art of War, Chapter XIII · Intelligence and Espionage

War , Secret

“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

Source: The Art of War, Chapter X · Terrain

Fear , Country

“Of all those in the army close to the commander none is more intimate than the secret agent; of all rewards none more liberal than those given to secret agents; of all matters none is more confidential than those relating to secret operations.”

Sun Tzu

Source: The Art of War, Chapter XIII · Intelligence and Espionage

Secret

“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

Variant translations
A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.
Source: The Art of War, Chapter I · Detail Assessment and Planning

Appearance

“For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”

Sun Tzu

Variant translations
Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities... It is best to win without fighting.
Source: The Art of War, Chapter III · Strategic Attack

Victory , Fight