710 Quotes by Sun Tzu

In the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.

Unless you enter the tiger's lair, you cannot get hold of the tiger's cub's.

With regard to narrow passes, if you can occupy them first, let them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy.

If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is death.

Without local guides, your enemy employs the land as a weapon against you.

One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards is in deep distress. One who frequently imposes punishments is in great difficulty. One who is at first excessively brutal and then fears the masses is the pinnacle of stupidity.

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

When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become, as it were, like rolling logs or stones... The energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height.

Those skilled in attack move as from above the nine-fold heavens. Thus they are capable both of protecting themselves and of gaining complete victory.