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Sun Tzu Quotes

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Famous Sun Tzu Quotes

“When your weapons are dulled and ardour damped, your strength exhausted and treasure spent, neighboring rulers will take advantage of your distress to act. And even though you have wise counsellors, none will be able to lay good plans for the future. Thus, while we have heard of blundering swiftness in war, we have not yet seen a clever operation that was prolonged.”

WarAbleWisePlansHeardWeaponsAdvantageStrategyLaysTreasureCleverOperationsRulersDistressExhaustedSwiftnessCounsellors
Author:Sun Tzu
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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 colors, 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 flavors than can ever be tasted.”

GivingArtWarFiveHeardProduceColorTasteNotesMusicalPrimariesCombinationMelodyYieldFlavorArt Of WarCardinalsHueMusical NotesPrimary Colors
Book:The Art Of War - The Oldest Military Treatise in the World
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“The relative size of your force as against that of your adversary is by itself of no consequence. What controls is the relative size of your force at the point where you join in battle. You can strike with the few and be many if you strike your adversary in his gaps. Seek out places where the defense is not strict, the place not tightly guarded, the generals weak, the troops disorderly, the supplies are scarce and the forces are isolated.”

IfsArtWarForceBattleConsequenceWeakSizeDefenseStrikesGapsRelativeIsolatedTroopsStrictArt Of WarAdversariesSuppliesScarceGuarded
Author:Sun Tzu
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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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“When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but continues his preparations, he will advance. When their language is deceptive but the enemy pretentiously advances, he will retreat. When the envoys speak in apologetic terms, he wishes a respite. When without a previous understanding the enemy asks for a truce, he is plotting. When the enemy sees an advantage but does not advance to seize it, he is fatigued.”

DoeArtWarAsksSpeakLanguageWishUnderstandingTermEnemyAdvantageHumblePreparationRetreatArt Of WarDeceptiveApologeticRespiteTruce
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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