Quotes About Leadership

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

The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.

The one who figures on victory at headquarters before even doing battle is the one who has the most strategic factors on his side

Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result is victory, then you must not fight, even at the ruler's bidding.

The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.

What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.

The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.

Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.

All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

Therefore the skilful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first then seek to win.

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win

There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.

Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.

Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.

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. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.

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.

So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.

To conquer the enemy without resorting to war is the most desirable. The highest form of generalship is to conquer the enemy by strategy.