In this post, we’ve collected for you the best Sun Tzu quotes that can inspire you to choose your battles wisely and avoid losing conflicts.
Sun Tzu Short Biography
Sun Tzu was born on 544 BC in the Easter Zhou Kingdom of Ancient China. His famous name is Sun Tzu which means ‘Master’, but his orgine name was Sun Wu (Chinese: 孫武).
Sun Tzu was a chinese philosopher, military strategist and the author of ‘The Art of War’. This last is one of the Seven Military Classics.
For 150 centuries, ‘The Art of War’ maintains his position among the most influential books of strategy and tactics. His classic has been used significantly as a systematic guide to war. It has made a great impact on both Western and Eastern Asian philosophy.
‘The Art of War’ is a philosophy that we can apply in many sides of our lives. These sides can include for example: job, business and even relationships. In this book, Sun Tzu reveals how important it is to truly “know your enemy”. He also recommends using brain power instead of muscle power.
15 Sun Tzu Quotes on the Philosophy of War and Warriors
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. And If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” -Sun Tzu
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin.”
“All warfare is based on deception.”
“The skillful soldier does not raise a second levy, neither are his supply-wagons loaded more than twice.”
“To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
“He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”
“What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.”
“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.”
“Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy’s purpose.”
“If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.”
“In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed.”
“If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.”
“We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors.”
“The experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.”
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt.”
13 Quotes on War and Leadership
“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.” – Sun Tzu
“The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.”
“Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.”
“The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.”
“The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.”
“Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.”
“Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.”
“No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.”
“What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge.”
“If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding.”
“Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.”
“A leader leads by example not by force.”
15 Quotes by Sun Tzu on War and Strategy
“If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him.” – Sun Tzu
“Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.”
“The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.”
“The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals.”
“Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight.”
“In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them.”
“Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.”
“Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the forest.”
“In raiding and plundering be like fire, in immovability like a mountain.”
“Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety.”
“Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear, and subtly contrive to time his arrival on the ground.”
“Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodate yourself to the enemy until you can fight a decisive battle.”
“If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.”
“If you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.”
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Latest Thoughts
Finally, Sun Tzu has deeply understood that we must work smarter and not harder in the battles we take. He emphasized the importance of using philosophy, wit and good planning on the battlefield. Because by doing this, we can avoid unnecessary physical conflicts.
Today, many of Sun Tzu quotes from his ‘Art of War’ are having a great impact on other competitive fields. Because these quotes focus on putting strategies, finding victory over an enemy and the qualities of a good leadership.
Over to you now, which quote from the above list of Sun Tzu quotes did you like the most? Please let us know in the comments section.
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