Sun Tzu — People — QuoteGeek

A coral paper mask peeking from behind a folded gray card screen, connected by a taut thread, on a lavender surface. — Original artwork

All warfare is based on deception.

Sun Tzu

A wooden signpost on a round sandy tray with green plants on one side and dark cracked earth on the other. — Original artwork

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.

Sun Tzu

A tiny yellow paper fox peeks from near the top of stacked black lacquer boxes with gold decoration. — Original artwork

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

Sun Tzu

Small carved wooden markers on a sand tray beside a rolled map and a brass compass. — Original artwork

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.

Sun Tzu

Grain spills from a burlap sack beside a small shield on a dark teal surface. — Original artwork

There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.

Sun Tzu

A ball of red yarn trails a loose thread towards a wooden needle against pale green. — Original artwork

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

Two wooden flutes are tied with a red ribbon on folded dark cloth. — Original artwork

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

Sun Tzu

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

An open red folding fan with a tassel lies beside a brass door bolt on pale green. — Original artwork

He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

Sun Tzu

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

Sun Tzu

A small brick wall with a gap and a paper boat in a shallow blue dish. — Original artwork

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

Sun Tzu

Painterly striped feather resting diagonally on a flat grey stone under soft light. — Original artwork

The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.

Sun Tzu

A black ring is tied to a straight red cord on the right and a loose blue cord on the left. — Original artwork

The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.

Sun Tzu

In war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.

Sun Tzu

A translucent blue ribbon winding around three small rounded clay hills on a pale surface. — Original artwork

Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.

Sun Tzu

Painterly open worn suitcase containing a swirling dark storm cloud. — Original artwork

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

Sun Tzu

A felt hen with a row of small tin helmets tucked beside her on an olive and rose background. — Original artwork

Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.

Sun Tzu

A brass knight chess piece stands at the edge of a chessboard on a wooden table against dark navy. — Original artwork

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then 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.

Sun Tzu

A small wooden arrow lies diagonally across folded blank paper on a dark blue surface scattered with fine dust. — Original artwork

Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.

Sun Tzu

A glass bowl of water shifting from red to calm blue sits beside a shattered miniature porcelain tower, on a slate background. — Original artwork

Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

Sun Tzu

A small aged brass hourglass with almost no sand left in the top, casting a long soft shadow on a dark blue background. — Original artwork

If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.

Misattributed to Sun Tzu

A green wire doll and a red wire doll sitting shoulder to shoulder, the red one holding a small magnifying loop. — Original artwork

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

Misattributed to Sun Tzu

Painterly dandelion releasing seeds beside a small garden trowel planted in soil. — Original artwork

Opportunities multiply as they are seized.

Misattributed to Sun Tzu

A glass globe containing dark rainclouds on one side and a bright yellow sun on the other. — Original artwork

In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.

Misattributed to Sun Tzu

Painterly rusted gear partly submerged in murky water beside broken ice. — Original artwork

Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.

Misattributed to Sun Tzu