Sun Tzu Quotes

“Every battle is won before it is ever fought.”

“The general who wins makes many calculations before the battle is fought.”

“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.”

“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.”

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

“He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”

“Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack.”

“In war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.”

“When you know yourself and your opponent, you will win every time. When you know yourself but not your opponent, you will win one and lose one. However, when you do not know yourself or your opponent, you will be imperiled every time.”

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

“Quickness is the essence of the war.”

“Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.”

“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”

“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”