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Sun Tzu Quotes

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Famous Sun Tzu Quotes

“In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.”

MayArtEndsEarthUsedOrderFightingHeavenSunFourReturnNeededVictoryBattleMoonFlowRiversDirectSeasonsMethodSecureStreamsMartial ArtsTacticsJoiningPassing AwayHeaven And EarthUnendingIndirectFour Seasons
Book:The Art of War
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“In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack.. the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.”

GivingMayArtTwoWarUsedOrderFightingNeededVictoryBattleDirectMethodSeriesEndlessSecureCombinationArt Of WarJoiningIndirectStrategist
Book:Strategy Six Pack
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“There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: recklessness, which leads to destruction; cowardice, which leads to capture; a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; a delicacy of honour, which is sensitive to shame; over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.”

MenMayArtWarWorryFiveTroubleDangerousDestructionShameFaultsSensitiveInsultHonourCaptureTemperCowardiceArt Of WarDelicacyHastyProvokedRecklessnessSolicitude
Book:The Art of War
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“Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.”

KnowsMayArtWarSpiritFightingWinningForceWaitingEnemyKnow HowFiveMilitaryVictoryEssentialsCapacityArmyPreparedHandleSuperiorsInferiorsSovereignArt Of WarAnimatedStrategistUnpreparedWar StrategyStratagem
Book:The Art Of War - The Oldest Military Treatise in the World
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“In a position of this sort, even though the enemy should offer us an attractive bait, it will be advisable not to stir forth, but rather to retreat, thus enticing the enemy in his turn; then, when part of his army has come out, we may deliver our attack with advantage.”

ShouldMayArtWarTurnsEnemyPositionOffersAdvantageArmyAttractiveRetreatArt Of WarBaitEnticingAdvisable
Book:Sun Tzu's The Art of War: Bilingual Edition Complete Chinese and English Text
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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 tempermental, 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.”

IfsGivingMayForceGrowsUnitedEnemySubjectsMilitaryStrengthWeakPreparedExpectedSuperiorsSecureEaseOpponentsDivisionWhere You AreArrogantBe PreparedSovereignArt Of WarAccordStrategistUnpreparedTacticalWar StrategyTactics And StrategyMilitary StrategyPreparing For War
Author:Sun Tzu
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“The art of using troops is this: ......When ten to the enemy's one, surround him; ......When five times his strength, attack him; ......If double his strength, divide him; ......If equally matched you may engage him; ......If weaker numerically, be capable of withdrawing; ......And if in all respects unequal, be capable of eluding him, ..........for a small force is but booty for one more powerful.”

IfsMayArtForcePowerfulEnemyFiveMilitaryTenCapableSurroundDividesTroopsArt Of WarMatchedBootyWithdrawing
Author:Sun Tzu
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“No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique. If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are. 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.”

IfsShouldMayWarMovingFightingFieldsBattleAdvantageKingdomsDestroyedWhere You AreRulersTroopsArt Of WarGladnessStrategistVexationSpleenPique
Book:The Art of War
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“Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards... Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.”

MayArtWarRunningCoursesWinningHeavenWaterBornNaturalConditionsMilitaryVictoryShapesSucceedFlowRelationConstantSoldierWork OutOpponentsRunning AwayWarfareCaptainsFoeTacticsArt Of WarStrategistHigh Places
Book:El Arte de la Guerra – The Art of War (Sun Tzu)
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