300+ Best Sun Tzu Quotes Art of War | Best Sun Tzu Quotes on Enemy
Who is Sun Tzu?
Sun Tzu, the author of the book “The Art of War” is one of the most influential people in history. Born in 544 BC and died in 496 BC, Sun Tzu lived to be 84-years-old. The life and military career that we know of Sun Tzu comes from the notes of his student, Wu Jing, who was a military general. The most famous piece of work is Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” which is a text on military strategy.
Sun Tzu is one of the most prominent military strategists in world history and the author of The Art of War, a famous book outlining principles of the strategy. The Art of War has had an impact on Eastern as well as Western military thinking, and is widely considered to be the most influential book on warfare in the East.
His most famous work is the “The Art of War” where he talks about different military tactics, techniques, and theories. His specific piece that is best known is “know your enemy).” He also talked about defensive and attacking techniques.
“Know you enemy” It is only by knowing the enemy’s time and terrain, and by subduing the enemy without engaging him in front-line combat, that one can be victorious.
“Defensive and attacking techniques” Attack where the enemy is not strong.
Best Sun Tzu Quotes Art of War
“A leader leads by example, not by force.” – Sun Tzu
“Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” – Sun Tzu
“Victory usually goes to the army who has better trained officers and men.” – Sun Tzu
“All warfare is based on deception.” – Sun Tzu
“To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” – Sun Tzu
“It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.” – Sun Tzu
“Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens to low regions. So in warfare, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak. Water, moreover, will sooner or later find its level; Though appearing uneven, yet when it has attained a certain height it resumes its level. So too, through proper training one can develop his army until it is ready for any occasion.” – Sun Tzu
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.” – Sun Tzu
“It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.” – Sun Tzu
“Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” – Sun Tzu
“Defeat may be contagious, but so is courage.” – Sun Tzu
“The skilful warrior does not raise a second levy, neither are his supply-wagons loaded more than twice.” – Sun Tzu
“The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.” – Sun Tzu
“If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, they will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless.” – Sun Tzu
“In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy’s country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.” – Sun Tzu
“Supreme excellence is not in what is rare and exceptional but in the commonplace.” – Sun Tzu
“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this principle that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.” – Sun Tzu
“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this principle that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.” – Sun Tzu
“It is better to rule in a corner of a room than in a corner of the world.” – Sun Tzu
“Sun Tzu said: Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.” – Sun Tzu
“If (your men) are firm in their resolve to die, there can be no doubt of victory.” – Sun Tzu
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you do not know the enemy but do know yourself, you can win a hundred battles in a single one. If ignorant of the enemy and ignorant of yourself, victory will no more
always be within your reach.” – Sun Tzu
“For it is in adeptness that men fearing death dare to rush where death awaits them, while those who face death without flinching prevail.” – Sun Tzu
“The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.” – Sun Tzu
“Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there is no place of refuge, they will stand firm. If they are in hostile country, they will show a stubborn front. If there is no help for it, they will fight hard. For one whose morale is high, there is no impossible situation.” – Sun Tzu
“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” – Sun Tzu
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you do not know the enemy but do know yourself, you can win a hundred battles in a single one.” – Sun Tzu
“It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war who can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.” – Sun Tzu
“Speaking without fear of contradiction, since no one can be both a general and a soldier at the same time, when a general fights in person he can be victorious ten-fold.” – Sun Tzu
“The general who wins a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. The general who loses a battle makes many calculations beforehand.” – Sun Tzu
“A wise general lays his plans well ahead; the tactical skills are also consulted.” – Sun Tzu
“Afoot he stands on level ground, and at once sees the enemy’s dispositions; there is no time to be lost if he is to fight before nightfall.” – Sun Tzu
“In the sixteenth year of Duke Xiao of Qi, the lord was sacrificing to the god in company with his guests when Zheng Yi, one of his officers, pointing to a young warrior among the bearers, said to him: ‘This is not an ordinary man.’” – Sun Tzu
“Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.” – Sun Tzu
“If a general is ignorant in the art of war, he must be dismissed.” – Sun Tzu
“The soldier’s spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is bent only on returning to camp. The general must be aware of the moment when his men’s spirits are keen, and especially so at dawn, when they rise from bed to commence the long day’s work.”
“The hour of battle is the test of generals; morning and evening must be equally welcome to them.”
“What is called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.” – Lao Tzu
“To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” – Sun Tzu
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” – Sun Tzu
“When you surround an army, leave an outlet free, so that it may be able to relieve itself.”
Inspirational Sun Tzu Quotes
“If you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single defeat.”
“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
“Feed your soldiers before they go into battle so that they may return in triumph.”
“In strategy as well as in war, one must see the opportunities which the changing conditions of battle present to one’s side.”
“It is also true that all warfare is based on deception.”
“In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed.”
“Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you’ll never be defeated.”
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.”
“He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.”
“If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.”
“There are some who value victory, and there are some who value security. I, however, value both victory and security.”
“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.”
“Victorious warriors win first and then make reckoning of the numbers killed.”
“To see one’s own errors before making them is to take half the trouble out of life.”
“If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.”
“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you.”
“He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.”
“There are some who value victory, and there are some who value security. I, however, value both victory and security.”
“When you engage in battle, your enemy will use strategy. The wise general studies this and makes use of it. Thus the result is victory.”
“Good strategy yields good results,and skillful tactics ensures a favorable outcome.”
“Victorious warriors win first and then make reckoning of the numbers killed.”
“Concentrate your energy like a laser beam, so that not even a moth can escape from under its range of influence.”
“A bold warrior finds enemies wherever he goes.”
“A man who has committed an error and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.”
“As the trigger is pulled, the shot counts not.”
“The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.”
“If you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single defeat.”
Sun Tzu Quotes Business
A leader without followers is a boss without workers.
A wise person will know what path to take and what to avoid, a foolish person will struggle in vain and eventually perish.
The wise leader draws its power from the masses, while the leadership of a fool depends on just his own strength.
We should not change our policies according to the times, but instead we should change the times according to our policies.
The brave warrior will fall with his sword intact, but only a wise leader keeps its ambitions within reach.
To have a good reputation is to be admired, having no enemies is to be powerful, and being assertive is to gain victory.
To take the enemy’s best troops and use them against him is the act of a leader worthy of commendation.
The brave general will seek out battles, while a wise leader avoids battles to plan for future gains.
To be feared more than the enemy’s weapons is what is called power.
To demotivate your soldiers is to have no means to control them, and if you have no control over your soldiers then you are the real cause of their defeat.
To attack the enemy’s strategy is to control your own fate.
It is better to be respected than to be feared, and it is better to be hated than loved.
In the midst of chaos and confusion, there is opportunity for taking advantage of the enemy.
Victory belongs to the person who can see through the situation first and act accordingly.
The best battle strategy is a defensive one, but sometimes you must heed the strategic offensive in order for your strategy to succeed.
To know the enemy and to know yourself is to have chance of victory in a hundred battles.
If your plans are too complicated, you will tend to be indecisive and act at the wrong time.
The victorious warrior wins first and then goes to war, while the defeated warrior goes to war first and then seeks for victory.
A good commander will use his power to foresee his enemy’s actions and thereby gain control over them, while a bad commander uses brute force which can only lead to disaster.
Sun Tzu Quotes on Love
It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances.
Regard your enemy as you would the sun: When you cannot see it, its power is great and when it sets, darkness prevails.
The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
In order to subdue the enemy without fighting, you must first weaken their defense beforehand.
No ruler, however wise, can avoid setbacks.
Weaken the enemy without fighting. Fight only when the moment to fight presents itself.
If you know your enemy and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.
Even if we are defeated, we must fight back!
The art of war is partly the art of deception.
In time of war, it is best to concentrate your strength to defeat the enemy while he is still dispersed.
If you know your own limitations, you will stop striving after unattainable goals.
All warfare is based on deception; hence those skilled in war resort to lies when they are beaten.
With victory, come both rewards and penalties both great and small; with defeat, come both rewards and penalties both great and small.
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle; the general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.
The general who wins a battle makes calculated marches that are long; the general who loses a battle makes approximate marches that return home by short stages.
Thus, not to reveal one’s calculations beforehand does not constitute cunningness – rather it is cautiousness.
Funny Sun Tzu Quotes
“All warfare is based on deception”
“To win one hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”
“What should be done first? What matters most?”
“If you know neither the high hand nor low, you will always stumble blindly.”
“He that can conquer himself is greater than he who conquers others.”
“Once you have secured your place in the world, there is no enemy you cannot subdue.”
“To know one’s enemies is to be a friend to oneself.”
“There are three things which: when they enter a state, it takes them ten years to work their way out again; The price of one is that of ten And the value of one hundred is that of ten thousand”
“Every battle is won before it is fought.”
“The enlightened warrior is like a long tent pole: He supports all who behind him stand.”
“It is stupidity to despise the enemy in advance, for then you fight without knowing your adversary.”
“When people come to make trouble for me, I will be ready with the short sword and the upright fist.”
“Learning without thinking is labor lost; thinking without learning is perilous.”
“Always be one step ahead of your enemy.”
“If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”
“It is unwise to show anger in advance. Let your strength be steady and calm. When you are angry, you will become agitated and cause the situation to deteriorate.”
“Be prepared to die at any time; there is no great man who has lived even one day without having to die. Therefore, you should practice dying.”
“If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
“The enlightened warrior is like a long tent pole: He supports all who behind him stand.”
“Every battle is won before it is fought.”
“A leader of men must be a genius at devising plans; he must be skillful at thinking up orders; he must have no fear and be absolutely self-confident. He must be resolute and never waver; he must be calm and never panic; he must not make mistakes when choosing between alternatives. He must have a good memory and be able to understand the affairs of all the world, and he must never forget anything.”
“What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy.”
“The very best victory consists of hitting your enemy in his weakest spot, then pushing on to complete annihilation without stopping for breath.
Sun Tzu Quotes on Discipline
“Know thyself and know thy enemy; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril.”
“In the business of conquering an enemy’s territory, the best combination of strategy and tactics is to divert him from his course.”
“A skillful warrior avoids an unequal battle”
“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste death but once”
“He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious”
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
“The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.”
“Hard work will beat easy work every time.”
“The moral quality of a soldier determines the course of his career.”
“Neither a battle nor a campaign is worth a life.”
“A soldier, to be great, must carry himself well or he will not even be noticed by the enemy.”
“For those who love war there is no such thing as discipline”
“There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.”
“Disciplined warriors, in fighting, do not glory in their might nor seek to win a victory by strength alone; it is by strategy that they conquer. By attaining victory with the least possible effort they strive to afford the greatest possible benefit to their sovereign.”
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable to do so; when using our forces, we must seem 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. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.”
“In the midst of winter, I faced snow and cold… I went to the practice yard at dawn and dusk; day and night, I did not cease my preparation. With the sun in the sky, I oath off… When spring came, I had no more concern for snow-white cloaks. When summer came, I was not hindered by heat.”
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you can lure the enemy out we can crush him.”
“He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.”
“He who excels at diffusing order through the chaos of war is sure to win.”
“Those who think they can do it, are unfit for it; those who know they can’t are fit for it.”
“The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals”
“A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, seem to be ineffective.”
“An army may march great distances without distress if it marches through country where it is not oppressed by heat or want of water. To be able to do this is the sign of a great general.”
“The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals”
“Imperceptibly move on the enemy without pressing him hard.”
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you can lure the enemy out we can crush him.”
“Should your adversary be a poltroon or a coward, seek out an advantageous opportunity. If he be of choleric temper, seek out an occasion to irritate him. If he is a free-thinker, seek out an occasion to disagree with him.”
Sun Tzu Quotes on Leadership
“One who knows himself and understands his enemy will never be defeated in a hundred battles.”
“All warfare is based on deception.”
“It is the rule in war, if our force is ten times theirs, to surround them; if five times ours, to attack them; if double theirs, to divide our attacking forces into two and one half of these to attack then one and the other half another…
“When it is a question of making war, let your great principle be to conquer without fighting.”
“He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will gain a victory that far outstrips him.”
“To see what is in the wind, to hear what passes behind the scenes, that is genius.”
“It is not enough to succeed, other success will attend you.”
“In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign; in peace he obeys the sovereign.”
“Hence in war, where there are no fixed rules, success depends upon extreme skill and keen intelligence.”
“When you engage in battle with an army larger than yours, if victory ensues, then your advantage was greater; if defeat follows this then your advantage was smaller…
“If a general is unable to estimate the enemy’s strength, he may make a perilous mistake.”
“The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought.”
“The art of war teaches us to rely not on numbers but on position.”
“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.”
“There are three ways of ruling men; some use rewards and penalties, while others rely upon fear, and others still make use of intelligence.”
“One who knows his own strength, and that of the enemy, will never be in peril.”
“Although there may be differences in weapons, they should be overcome by tact rather than by force.”
“The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace follows the path of safety.”
“It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy’s one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.”
“If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him.”
“Subordinate officers should be timid and tractable when their superiors are vigorous and daring.”
“No commander should put troops in a position where they have no alternative but death or victory.”
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt.”
“The general who sees danger where there is none goes against the grain of military discipline.”
“If you are in command of a great force, and if its leader, though able, is not near at hand, do not move him too quickly from afar; for he may get bewildered and unsure of his course and lose his way on the march.”
“In the operations of war, distance lends haste, and great haste lends to wanderings.”
“Hasty preparation yields hurrying to battle with the enemy, which is sure death.”
“When ignorant of the enemy’s dispositions, move him by rapid movement; when moving against an incensed foe, move him by slow and steady movement.”
Sun Tzu Quotes Know Your Enemy
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” – Sun Tzu
“The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.”
“I have heard that in old days, battles were fought with bows and arrows, chinese spears and shields, but now the weapons are guns with bayonets attached.”
“To know your enemies and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.”
“Those who were called skillful leaders of old knew how to drive a wedge between the enemy’s front and rear; to prevent cooperation between his large and small divisions; to hinder the good troops from rescuing the bad, the officers from rallying their men. When the enemy’s men were united, they managed to keep them in disorder.
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.”
“Therefore, in your camp, there must be constant concern for the well-being of your soldiers; their clothing, their equipment, and their housing must be considered.”
“In the field, you must have regard to the Humble—the hungry, the thirsty ones—and tend to them with great care.”
“Chang Yu relates a saying of Wu Ch`i which deserves notice:”I do not fear the man who has trained thousands of troops, for one may defeat ten thousand with the help of a good general; nor do I fear the man who has trained ten thousand troops, for with another good general I can defeat him. If a ruler knows the Way of Warfare, he need not fear an invasion from a powerful enemy.”
“It is a general principle of war not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.”
“The two most essential factors in gaining a victory are: first, never bringing the entire army into battle at one time; second, never fighting in an enemy’s territory.”
“Hence those skilled in war subdue the enemy’s forces without any fighting; they capture his strong cities without laying siege to them; they take his populous cities without protracted operations.”
“The best way to gain a victory is to attack the enemy’s strategy. ”
“There are three ways of conquering the enemy – you can defeat his army, you can cause him to lose his treasure, or you can cause him to lose his land. You can’t use all three in succession.”
“Hence when there are only a few men to be accounted as an army, the tactical principle is, the fewer the better; when there are many men, the tactical principle is, the more the better.”
Best Sun Tzu Quotes
“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” – Sun Tzu
“To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the height of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is strength.”
“When you are skirmishing with the enemy, leave them be; when you are encamped, destroy them.” – Sun Tzu
“If your opponent knows the name of every thrust and parry, then you are simply another opponent to him.” – Sun Tzu
“It is better to conquer the enemy’s army than to capture their city. When you take an enemy’s city, you will have his soldiers as well. If you capture their soldiers, they will turn and fight for you.”
“Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy. Next best is to disrupt his alliances by diplomacy. The next best is to attack his army, and the worst policy of all is to attack cities.” – Sun Tzu
“If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant”
“The worst policy of all is to attack cities.” – Sun Tzu
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” – Sun Tzu
“If the enemy is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”
“It does not matter whether the troops are many or few – so long as they are agile, brave and militant.”
“The skillful leader subdues the enemy without any battle; he captures their cities without any siege”
“To be superior at the outset of a campaign is the best policy. Attack by turns, do not press on all in one day.”
“They will never know our strength until we have defeated them.” – Sun Tzu
“Take advantage of every incident, good and bad; do not ignore them.” – Sun Tzu
“Only when the last enemy has been destroyed will you be able to say: “I have done all I could.” – Sun Tzu
“Whatever be the kind of enemy with whom you are at war, you must be on your guard against him.”
“The skillful leader determines the time for action and makes his move imperceptible; he does not gamble too much, nor does he take too little. He moderates his actions and keeps a tight rein over himself.”
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, 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.”
“Just as water retains no constant shape but takes the form of the receptacle into which it is put, so there are no constant conditions in warfare, for each has its special circumstances.”
“The general who conquers a thousand miles of hostile territory does not require more than one thousand men.” – Sun Tzu
“When the enemy is gaining ground, we must retreat; when he is well supplied with food, we must harass him; when he takes to flight, we must pursue. If forced to fight a large force, we must seek out an advantageous place to fight; if there is no place, then make for the narrow path leading down a precipitous slope.”
“As for the five weapons, use them after you have observed the following rules. When friendly armies are face to face, if they are evenly matched in strength, allies should fight in separate ranks. If possible, let them promote weariness in each other.”
“To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.”
“Do not despise an enemy who is like yourself in evil; for when the dice are thrown, we must take whatever comes.”
“The principle of war is based on deception. Hence, 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; and if far away, make him think that we are near at hand.”
“What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy, for the ultimate purpose of war is to defeat the enemy.”
