Quotes from Sun Tzu

He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he will retreat.

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.

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.

He who knows things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated.

In warfare, there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent will succeed and win.

One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant.

Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.

Those who would wage war, should first eliminate all domestic enemies before proceeding to attack the external foe.

He who wishes to fight must first count the cost

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

Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve.

Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.

It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

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

The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands

Thus those skilled in war subdue the enemy's army without battle .... They conquer by strategy.

When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.

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

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

What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace; divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is master of his enemy's fate.

Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.

One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all.