Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzuwas a Chinese general, military strategist, and philosopher who lived in the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, a widely influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and Eastern philosophy. Aside from his legacy as the author of The Art of War, Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and Asian culture as a legendary historical figure. His birth name was Sun Wu,...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionPhilosopher
CountryChina
war opponents doe
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.
opponents height strategy
The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent's strategy.
giving opponents hares
When your opponent gives you an opening, be swift as a hare.
warrior opponents defense
You can prevent your opponent from defeating you through defense, but you cannot defeat him without taking the offensive.
art-of-war opponents dear
Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.
athlete warrior opponents
So it is that good warriors take their stance on ground where they cannot lose, and do not overlook conditions that make an opponent prone to defeat.
war bridges opponents
Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.
captures cities disputes forces intact kingdom laying leader lengthy mastery operations siege troops
The skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field. With his forces intact he disputes the mastery of the emp
art blunders giving minor orders petty rectify swayed
The art of giving orders is not to try to rectify the minor blunders and not to be swayed by petty doubts.
battles breaking conquer conquest consists excellence fight resistance supreme
To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
victory
So it is said that victory can be made.
dark fall night plans
Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
chinese-philosopher country instance prolonged
There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.
forbid result ruler sure though
If fighting is sure to result in victory, than you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding.