The Art of War Quotes

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The Art of War by Sun Tzu

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The Art of War Quotes (showing 1-30 of 481)

Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: deception, life, war
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The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: diplomacy, strategy, victory, war
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If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a
hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory
gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor
yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: strategy
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Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall
like a thunderbolt.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: business, strategy, war
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Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without

fighting.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: politics, success, war
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Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go
to war first and then seek to win
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: strategy
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All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we

must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when
we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far
away, we must make him believe we are near.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: deception, strategy, tactics, war, warfare
682 likes
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If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in

superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to
irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking
his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If
sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him
where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected .
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: preparation, security, strategy, tactics, war
517 likes
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In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity

Sun Tzu, A Arte da Guerra
tags: business, strategy
436 likes
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The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern
and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of
response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary
moment that which they cannot anticipate.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: opportunity, people, predictability, surprise
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There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.

Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: benefit, war
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Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory:
1 He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
2 He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
3 He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its
ranks.
4 He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
5 He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the
sovereign.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and
death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry
which can on no account be neglected.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: importance, safety, state, war
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Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire
and be still as the Mountain.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: elements, war
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Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow
you into the deepest valley.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: art-of-war, sun-tzu
287 likes
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When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When
settled, make them move.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: the-art-of-war
280 likes
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When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate
foe too hard.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: business, strategy, war
249 likes
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There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these
five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination
they produce more hues than can ever been seen.

There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of
them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: colors, creativity, diversity, idic, innovation, inspirational, invention, music, problem-solving
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So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill.
To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: art-of-war, intimidation, peace, psychology, strategy, victory, war
188 likes
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who wishes to fight must first count the cost

Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: business, strategy, war
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One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.

Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but
excels in winning with ease.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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Be extremely subtle even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely

mysterious even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the
director of the opponent's fate.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be
victorious.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to
reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: business, strategy, war
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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.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
tags: chapter-6, roger-ames
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Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by

content.
But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into
being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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