Quotes by Sun Tzu

“Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.”

“A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.”

“defeat the enemies strategy”

“Of all those in the army close to the commander none is more intimate than the secret agent; of all rewards none more liberal than those given to secret agents; of all matters none is more confidential than those relating to secret operations.”

“For 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.”

“Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise, for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.”

“He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.”

“Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the Attack.”

“According to my assessment, even if you have many more troops than others, how can that help you to victory?”

“For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards.”

“The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.”

“Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.”

Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.

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 combinationthey produce more hues than can ever been seen.There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations ofthem yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.

The wise warrior avoids the battle.

Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.

Foreknowledge cannot be gotten from ghosts and spirits, cannot be had by analogy, cannot be found out by calculation. It must be obtained from people, people who know the conditions of the enemy.

One hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful, subduing the others military without battle is the most skillful.

Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemys resistance without fighting.

You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.