710 Quotes by Sun Tzu

The art of giving orders is not to try to rectify the minor blunders and not to be swayed by petty doubts.

When one treats people with benevolence, justice and righteousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders.

Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy

If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless.

Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.

So the important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence.

The skilful employer of men will employ the wise man, the brave man, the covetous man, and the stupid man.

Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment - that which they cannot anticipate.

When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the first move, it is called temporising ground.