The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men. Sun Tzu More Quotes by Sun Tzu More Quotes From Sun Tzu So the principles of warfare are: Do not depend on the enemy not coming, but depend on our readiness against him. Do not depend on the enemy not attacking, but depend on our position that cannot be attacked. Sun Tzu warfareprinciplesenemy If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. Sun Tzu greatest-victorymilitarywar When your weapons are dulled and ardour damped, your strength exhausted and treasure spent, neighboring rulers will take advantage of your distress to act. And even though you have wise counsellors, none will be able to lay good plans for the future. Thus, while we have heard of blundering swiftness in war, we have not yet seen a clever operation that was prolonged. Sun Tzu wisecleverwar Those who excel in war first cultivate their own humanity and and maintain their laws and institutions. By these means they make their governments invincible. Sun Tzu governmentwarmean 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. Sun Tzu militarywarart He who is not sage and wise, humane and just, cannot use secret agent.s. And he who is not delicate and subtle cannot get the truth out of them. Sun Tzu usesecretwise To Subdue an enemy without fighting is the greatest of skills Sun Tzu fightingskillsenemy It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order. Sun Tzu warorderart Know the enemy and know yourself. Sun Tzu militaryfearwar Apparent confusion is a product of good order; apparent cowardice, of courage; apparent weakness, of strength. Sun Tzu weaknessconfusionorder Those skilled at making the enemy move do so by creating a situation to which he must conform; they entice him with something he is certain to take, and with lures of ostensible profit they await him in strength. Sun Tzu creatingwarmoving To persuade your enemy to (retreat) before the fight is to defeat them even before the battle begins. An enemy made ally is no longer an enemy. Sun Tzu battlefightingenemy Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits. Sun Tzu appreciatewarart If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is tempermental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. Sun Tzu art-of-warstrengthmilitary Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory. Sun Tzu warpeoplefall Therefore the skillful 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. Sun Tzu fightingwarart 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. Sun Tzu warartmoving 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. Sun Tzu armyfightingwar And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him. Sun Tzu warenemyart Order or disorder depends on organisation and direction; courage or cowardice on circumstances; strength or weakness on tactical dispositions. Sun Tzu weaknesswarorder
