Winning isn't enough. The acme of all skill is to defeat your enemy before taking the field. Sun Tzu More Quotes by Sun Tzu More Quotes From Sun Tzu Wait by the river long enough and the body of your enemy will float by you. Sun Tzu waiting rivers long With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up. Sun Tzu waiting war art Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign. Sun Tzu military war art The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success. Sun Tzu art-of-war leadership law It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus doubled agents are recruited and used. Sun Tzu following-instructions giving war In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. Sun Tzu war country art To conquer the enemy without resorting to war is the most desirable. The highest form of generalship is to conquer the enemy by strategy. Sun Tzu conquer war enemy Keep their friends close and their enemies closer. Sun Tzu enemy When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are not clear and distinct; when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganization. Sun Tzu men war art If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the officers are angry, it means that the men are weary. Sun Tzu war mean art By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, the skillful general keeps the enemy without definite knowledge. By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose. At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. Sun Tzu army war art If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst. Sun Tzu drinking war art The art of giving orders is not to try to rectify the minor blunders and not be swayed by petty doubts. Sun Tzu war order art In war, practice dissimulation and you will succeed. Sun Tzu practice war art He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. Sun Tzu army winning war The business of a general is to kick away the ladder behind soldiers when they have climbed up a height. Sun Tzu ladders height soldier The sovereign must have full knowledge of the activities of the five sorts of agents. This knowledge must come from the double agents, and therefore it is mandatory that they be treated with the utmost liberality. Sun Tzu treated agents sovereign In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. Sun Tzu art-of-war fighting order Use humility to make the enemy haughty. Tire them by flight. Cause division among them. When they are unprepared, attack and make your move when they do not expect it. Sun Tzu military war moving If you are strong, appear weak. But if you are weak, appear strong. Sun Tzu strong weak war
