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Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu Quotes

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Famous Sun Tzu Quotes

“There are five kinds of incendiary attack: The first is called setting fire to personnel; the second, to stores; the third, to transport vehicles and equipment; the fourth, to munitions; the fifth, to supply installations...In all cases an army must understand the changes induced by the five kinds of incendiary attack, and make use of logistical calculations to address them.”

FirstsKindUseCasesFireFiveThirdsArmyStoresSettingSettingsAddressesVehicleFourthEquipmentFifthCalculationsTransportPersonnelInstallation
Author:Sun Tzu
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“One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards is in deep distress. One who frequently imposes punishments is in great difficulty. One who is at first excessively brutal and then fears the masses is the pinnacle of stupidity.”

FirstsTogetherLostGroupsMassDifficultyRewardsStupidityPunishmentGrantsTroopsBrutalDistressHere And ThereWhisperingSmall GroupsPinnacle
Author:Sun Tzu
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“Whoever is the first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy will be fresh for the fight... Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy... By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near.”

FirstsArtWarFightingCausesEnemyImpossibleFieldsApproachDrawsAdvantageCleverDamageArt Of WarAccord
Book:Sun Tzu's The Art of War: Bilingual Edition Complete Chinese and English Text
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“Be the first to seize intersecting ground, that is ground which lies the intersections of borders or intersections of main thoroughfares of commerce and travel. Your occupation of it gives you access to all who border it and all who would covet it. On intersecting ground, if you establish alliances you are safe, if you lose alliances you are in peril.”

IfsGivingFirstsArtWarLyingLosesSafeAccessBordersOccupationCommercePerilArt Of WarAlliancesIntersections
Author:Sun Tzu
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“The general must be the first in the toils and fatigues of the army. In the heat of summer he does not spread his parasol nor in the cold of winter don thick clothing. In dangerous places he must dismount and walk. He waits until the army's wells have been dug and only then drinks; until the army's food is cooked before he eats; until the army's fortifications have been completed, to shelter himself.”

FirstsWellsDoeHas BeensArtWarWaitingWalksDangerousColdDrinkSummerArmyWinterSpreadHeatClothingsThickShelterToilFatigueArt Of WarDangerous PlacesFortificationParasols
Author:Sun Tzu
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“The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.”

FirstsArtWarHandsAbleLyingCertainOpportunityEnemyMilitaryPossibilityDefeatSecureFighterArt Of WarStrategistGood FightWar StrategyDefeating The Enemy
Book:The Illustrated Art of War
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