Sun Tzu Quotes

What enables the enlightened rulers and good generals to conquer the enemy at every move and achieve extraordinary success is foreknowledge.

The answer was again in the affirmative, so arrangements were made to bring 180 ladies out of the Palace. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, and placed one of the King's favourite concubines at the head of each. He then bade them all take spears in their hands, and addressed them thus: “I presume you know the difference between front and back, right hand and left hand?

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.

لا تطارد عدوا سريعا يكاد يطير، ولا تهاجم جنودا طبعهم حاد عنيف

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

Stir opponents up, making them respond to you; then you can observe their forms of behavior, and whether they are orderly or confused.

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;

故用兵之法，十則圍之，五則攻之，倍則分之， 敵則能戰之，少則能守之，不若則能避之。

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

Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.

It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.

It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.

Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge.

Sun Tzu Wu was a native of the Ch`i State. His Art of War brought him to the notice of Ho Lu, King of Wu. Ho Lu said to him: “I have carefully perused your 13 chapters. May I submit your theory of managing soldiers to a slight test?

Soldiers must be first treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline.