Sun Tzu Quotes | His Most Famous Quotes
Sun Tzu, the legendary Chinese general and strategist, imparted timeless wisdom in his book “The Art of War.” “All warfare is based on deception.”
Here are some of his most famous quotes:
On Planning and Preparation:
“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. 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 point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.”
“Every battle is won before it is fought.”
On Knowing the Enemy and Yourself:
“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.”
On Deception and Strategy:
“All warfare is based on deception.”
“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like the thunderbolt.”
On Leadership and Discipline:
“A leader leads by example, not by force.”
“When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is insubordination. When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is collapse. When the higher officers are angry and insubordinate, and on meeting the enemy give battle on their own account from a feeling of resentment, before the commander-in-chief can tell whether or no he is in a position to fight, the result is ruin.”
On Adaptability and Flexibility:
“Just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.”
“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
These quotes encapsulate Sun Tzu’s profound insights into strategy, leadership, and the human condition. His teachings remain relevant today, offering valuable guidance not only in warfare but also in business, negotiations, and personal life.
