Home / Quotes / Quote by Sun Tzu

Quote by Sun Tzu

“They [spies] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness.”

Quote by Sun Tzu

Book:Sun Tzu's Art of War - Illustrated & Translated for Modern Readers

Work

Sun Tzu's Art of War - Illustrated & Translated for Modern Readers

Sun Tzu's Art of War is a seminal work in the field of military strategy, offering insights on warfare and leadership. This illustrated and translated edition aims to make the ancient text accessible to a contemporary audience, with visual aids and a language that reflects current usage. more

Author

Sun Tzu, born around 544 BC and died around 496 BC, was a renowned Chinese military strategist. His military thoughts are mainly reflected in his book 'The Art of War', which is considered the classic of military strategy and has had a profound impact on various fields such as military, politics, and economics in later generations. more

You May Also Like

“Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.”

Mind Art War Certain Reports Subtle Art Of War Ingenuity Strategist

Book:Strategy Six Pack

Source: Strategy Six Pack

“Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.”

Kind Art War Use Subtle Spy Art Of War Strategist

Author:Sun Tzu

“When a general, unable to estimate the enemy's strength, allows an inferior force to engage a larger one, or hurls a weak detachment against a powerful one, and neglects to place picked soldiers in the front rank, the result must be rout.”

Art War Force Results Powerful Enemy Fronts Weak Soldier Neglect Inferiors Art Of War Detachment

Book:Strategy Six Pack

Source: Strategy Six Pack

“He who knows things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated.”

Knows Art War Fighting Winning Practice Battle Defeated Art Of War

Book:Strategy Six Pack

Source: Strategy Six Pack

“Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.”

Knows May Art War Army Compare Art Of War Opposing

Book:The Art of War

Source: The Art of War

“There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune on his army: By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army. By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the soldier's minds. By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.”

Source: The Art of War

“The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy”

Men Looks Doe Art War Individual Energy Ability Too Much Effects Picks Clever Art Of War Right Man

Book:Sun Tzu's The Art of War: Bilingual Edition Complete Chinese and English Text

Source: Sun Tzu's The Art of War: Bilingual Edition Complete Chinese and English Text

“When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped to go rolling down.”

Ifs Men Art War Moving Fighting Energy Levels Four Stones Rounds Rolling Art Of War Slopes Standstill Cornered

Book:Strategy Six Pack

Source: Strategy Six Pack

“Now a soldier's spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is only on returning to camp.”

Mind Art War Spirit Morning Soldier Evening Camps Flags Art Of War

Book:Art of War

Source: Art of War

“When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.”

Want Art War Soldier Art Of War Spears

Book:Sun Tzu's Art of War - Illustrated & Translated for Modern Readers

Source: Sun Tzu's Art of War - Illustrated & Translated for Modern Readers