Sun Tzu (also rendered as Sunzi) was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking. The Art of War continues to influence many competitive endeavors in the world, including culture, politics, business and sports, as well as modern warfare.
His works focus much more on alternatives to battle, such as stratagem, delay, the use of spies and alternatives to war itself, the making and keeping of alliances, the uses of deceit and a willingness to submit, at least temporarily, to more powerful foes. Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and East Asian culture as a legendary historical and military figure. The name Sun Tzu by which he is best known in the Western World is an honorific which means “Master Sun”. Sun Tzu’s work has been praised and employed in East Asian warfare since its composition.
Some of the best quotes from Sun Tzu are listed below.
- “A leader leads by example, not by force.” – Sun Tzu
- “A warrior who is prepared to fight must also be prepared to die.” – Sun Tzu
- “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.” – Sun Tzu
- “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” – Sun Tzu
- “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.” – Sun Tzu
- “Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.” – Sun Tzu
- “Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?” – Sun Tzu
- “Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.” – Sun Tzu
- “Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength.” – Sun Tzu
- “Correct your mistake as soon as you have found it.” – Sun Tzu
- “Do not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy’s terms.” – Sun Tzu
- “Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.” – Sun Tzu
- “Don’t flail against the world, use it. Flexibility is the operative principle in the art of war.” – Sun Tzu
- “Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.” – Sun Tzu
- “Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.” – Sun Tzu
- “Every battle is won before it is fought.” – Sun Tzu
- “Great results, can be achieved with small forces.” – Sun Tzu
- “He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not will be victorious.” – Sun Tzu
- “He who knows things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated.” – Sun Tzu
- “He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.” – Sun Tzu
- “However desperate the situation and circumstances, don’t despair. When there is everything to fear, be unafraid. When surrounded by dangers, fear none of them. When without resources, depend on resourcefulness. When surprised, take the enemy by surprise.” – Sun Tzu
- “If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.” – Sun Tzu
- “If the enemy opens the door, you must race in.” – Sun Tzu
- “If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.” – Sun Tzu
- “If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.” – 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
- “If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.” – Sun Tzu
- “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” – Sun Tzu
- “It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy.” – Sun Tzu
- “It is more important to out-think your enemy, than to outfight him.” – Sun Tzu
- “Keep your friends close, your enemies even closer.” – Sun Tzu
- “Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.” – Sun Tzu
- “Know yourself and you will win all battles.” – Sun Tzu
- “Let your plans be dark and as impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” – Sun Tzu
- “Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.” – Sun Tzu
- “Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.” – Sun Tzu
- “One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all.” – Sun Tzu
- “One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.” – Sun Tzu
- “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” – Sun Tzu
- “Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small. The difficult things in this world must be done while they are easy, the greatest things in the world must be done while they are still small. For this reason sages never do what is great, and this is why they achieve greatness.” – Sun Tzu
- “Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.” – Sun Tzu
- “Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.” – Sun Tzu
- “Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.” – Sun Tzu
- “Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.” – Sun Tzu
- “So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.” – Sun Tzu
- “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” – 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
- “The expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.” – Sun Tzu
- “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” – Sun Tzu
- “The successful person has unusual skill at dealing with conflict and ensuring the best outcome for all.” – Sun Tzu
- “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” – Sun Tzu
- “The value of time, that is of being a little ahead of your opponent, often provides greater advantage than superior numbers or greater resources.” – Sun Tzu
- “The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.” – Sun Tzu
- “The wise warrior avoids the battle.” – Sun Tzu
- “There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen. There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.” – Sun Tzu
- “There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.” – Sun Tzu
- “There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.” – Sun Tzu
- “Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow.” – Sun Tzu
- “Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.” – Sun Tzu
- “To know your enemy, you must become your enemy.” – Sun Tzu
- “Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.” – Sun Tzu
- “Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.” – Sun Tzu
- “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” – Sun Tzu
- “Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.” – Sun Tzu
- “Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.” – Sun Tzu
- “Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy; forceful execution of even a poor plan can often bring victory.” – Sun Tzu
- “What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed: One cannot afford to neglect opportunity.” – Sun Tzu
- “What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.” – Sun Tzu
- “When one treats people with benevolence, justice and righteousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders.” – Sun Tzu
- “When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.” – Sun Tzu
- “When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.” – Sun Tzu
- “Who wishes to fight must first count the cost.” – Sun Tzu
- “You can prevent your opponent from defeating you through defense, but you cannot defeat him without taking the offensive.” – Sun Tzu
- “You cannot know if you will be successful or not. You can only prepare for battle and it must be done with all of your heart and with all of your consciousness. In that manner, you will have an edge.” – Sun Tzu
- “You have to believe in yourself.” – Sun Tzu
