Sun Tzu Quotes

6th century BCE Chinese general and military strategist

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Sun Tzu (孫子 Sūn Zǐ; c. 6th century BC) was a Chinese general, military strategist, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, a widely influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking. He is also known as Sun Wu (孫武; Sūn Wǔ), and Chang Qing (長卿; Cháng Qīng).

Bio from: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Portrait adapted from: Wikimedia Commons, 663highland (CC BY)

Native Name: 孫子

Alternative Names: Sun Wu • Suentzyy • Suen Tzyy

From Wikidata (CC0)

Engraved portrait of Sun Tzu, facing left

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A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.

One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.

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

If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.

If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.

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.

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

It is best to keep one’s own state intact; to crush the enemy’s state is only second best.

To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength;
to see the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight;
to hear the noise of thunder is no sign of a quick ear.

What the ancients called a clever fighter is
one who not only wins,
but excels in winning with ease.

Hence his victories bring him neither
reputation for wisdom
nor credit for courage.

Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.

非利不動，非得不用，非危不戰。主不可以怒而興師，將不可以慍而致戰；合于利而動，不合于利而止。怒可以復喜，慍可以復悅，亡國不可以復存，死者不可以復生。故明君慎之，良將警之，此安國全軍之道也。

If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.

There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general:
(1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction;
(2) cowardice, which leads to capture;
(3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults;
(4) a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame;
(5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.

Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.