Quotes About Strategy

The art of war is the art of deception.

Sun Tzu Wu was a native of the Ch`i State. His Art of War brought him to the notice of Ho Lu, King of Wu. Ho Lu said to him: "I have carefully perused your 13 chapters. May I submit your theory of managing soldiers to a slight test?

15. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

The best military policy is to attack strategies; the next to attack alliances; the next to attack soldiers.

Sun Tzu said: 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.

El arte de la guerra se basa en el engaño. Por lo tanto, cuando es capaz de atacar, ha de aparentar incapacidad; cuando las trampas se mueven, aparentar inactividad.

By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.

I have heard that in war haste can be folly, but have never seen delay that was wise.

Some people think insufficiency means weakness and surplus means strength, but this impression is wrong.

Weapons are inauspicious instruments, not the tools of the enlightened. When there is no choice but to use them, it is best to be calm and free from greed, and not celebrate victory. Those who celebrate victory are bloodthirsty, and the bloodthirsty cannot have their way with the world.

I pee in the toilets of my enemies, so that when they flush my pee comes out

Attack by Stratagem

Where there are repeated wars, the people are weakened; when they score repeated victories, rulers become haughty. Let haughty rulers command weakened people, and rare is the nation that will not perish as a result.

In a similar way, The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat.

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

I have heard that the ancients used bows and arrows to their advantage.

If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame.

Solving large, difficult problems may earn you a reputation for skillful negotiation, but Sun Tzu asserts that this supposed achievement is actually a form of failure, and having true wisdom means preventing difficult problems from arising in the first place. Ironically

There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.

7. Hence in the wise leader's plans, considerations of advantage and of disadvantage will be blended together.

Stir opponents up, making them respond to you; then you can observe their forms of behavior, and whether they are orderly or confused.

Do not press a desperate enemy.

expenditure