Do not press an enemy at bay. Sun Tzu More Quotes by Sun Tzu More Quotes From Sun Tzu If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need to do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way. Sun Tzu fightingwarart It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, defend against them; if weaker, be able to avoid them. Sun Tzu armywarart Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand. Sun Tzu armywarart Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace; divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is master of his enemy's fate. Sun Tzu fatewarenemy There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted. Sun Tzu yieldwarart So the important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence. Sun Tzu persistencemilitarywar If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss. Sun Tzu winninglossenemy It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on. Sun Tzu militaryevilwar Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled against another ten times its size, the result will be the flight of the former. Sun Tzu sizewarart Therefore the victories of good warriors are not noted for cleverness or bravery. Therefore their victories in battle are not flukes. Their victories are not flukes because they position themselves where they will surely win, prevailing over those wh. Sun Tzu warriorbraverywinning One who sets the entire army in motion to chase an advantage will not attain it. Sun Tzu armywarart If asked how to cope with a great host of the enemy in orderly array and on the point of marching to the attack, I should say: "Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will." Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots. Sun Tzu militarywarart It is sufficient to estimate the enemy situation correctly and to concentrate your strength to capture him. There is no more to it than this. He who lacks foresight and underestimates his enemy will surely be captured by him. Sun Tzu captureunderestimateenemy To maintain an army at a distance causes the people to be impoverished. Sun Tzu distancearmypeople Someone unfamiliar with the mountains and forests cannot advance [the team]. One who does not employ local guides cannot gain the advantage. Sun Tzu mountainteamdoe Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals. Sun Tzu militarywarart Whoever is the first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy will be fresh for the fight... Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy... By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near. Sun Tzu cleverwarart And therefore only the enlightened sovereign and the worthy general who are able to use the most intelligent people as agents are certain to achieve great things. Sun Tzu intelligentusepeople The natural formation of the country is the soldier's best ally Sun Tzu alliessoldiercountry Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions. Sun Tzu weaknessenergyorder
