710 Quotes by Sun Tzu

In all history, there is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. Only one who knows the disastrous effects of a long war can realize the supreme importance of rapidity in bringing it to a close.

The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy

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.

The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight.

The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.

Don't flail against the world, use it. Flexibility is the operative principle in the art of war.

The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.