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
art war self
Invincibility depends on one's self; the enemy's vulnerability on him.
winning self enemy
Know thy enemy and know thy self and you will win a hundred battles.
art war self
It is the business of a general to be serene and inscrutable, impartial and self-controlled.
art-of-war self enemy
Know thy self, know thy enemy.
art war self
It is a doctrine of war not to assume the enemy will not come, but rather to rely on one's readiness to meet him; not to presume that he will not attack, but rather to make one's self invincible.
art-of-war self-confidence winning
Know yourself and you will win all battles.
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.
country war
There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited.