More from The Art of War
- 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.
- Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
- Now 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.
- There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.
- To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
- The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
Last reviewed 2026-07-10