Sun Tzu Quotes

夫未戰而廟算勝者，得算多也；未戰而廟算不勝者，得算少也。

The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points;

吾士無余財，非惡貨也。無余命，非惡壽也。

Danger has a bracing effect.

On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies.

from the ancient Chinese commentators found in the Giles edition. Of these four, Giles' 1910 edition is the most scholarly and presents the reader an incredible amount of information concerning Sun Tzu's text, much more than any other translation. The Giles' edition of the ART OF WAR, as stated above, was a scholarly work. Dr. Giles was a leading sinologue at the time and an assistant in the Department

You must be swift as the wind, dense as the forest, rapacious as fire, steadfast like a mountain, mysterious as night and mighty as thunder.

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

Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.

故其疾如風，其徐如林，侵掠如火，不動如山，難知如陰，動如雷霆。

He will win whose army is animated by the spirit throughout all its ranks.

If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve.

孫子曰：國之上下，死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也。

When strong, appear weak. Brave, appear fearful. Orderly, appear chaotic. Full, appear empty. Wise, appear foolish. Many, appear to be few. Advancing, appear to retreat. Moving quickly, appear to be slow. Taking, appear to leave. In one place, appear to be in another.

as swift as wind, as gentle as forest, as fierce as fire, as unshakable as mountain