Sun Tzu quotes

"Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace; divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus, he is master of his enemy's fate." - Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu (commonly: "Sun Tzu", 孙子, simplified characters; in modern Chinese, the same characters also mean "grandson" with a toneless second syllable) (c. 400 B.C.) was the author of The Art of War, a classic Chinese treatise on military strategy. Sun Tzu's strategies and tactics utilize the "Eastern tradition of strategy that emphasizes outwitting an opponent through speed, stealth, flexibility, and a minimum of effort."

Sun Tzu quotes

• "It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle."
• "He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared."
• "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."
• "The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy."
• "Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack."
• "Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate." (An alternative translation: "Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace; divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus, he is master of his enemy's fate.").
• "The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers."
• "Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals."
• "And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him."
• "Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness; travel by unexpected routes and strike him where he has taken no precautions."
• "The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim."
• "Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him."
• "...when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near."
• "Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move."
• "What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations."
• "In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory."
• " Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more."
• "If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him."