55+ Unbreakable Quotes from Sun Tzu’s Art Of War
While his work, the Art of War, is world-famous, the life of Sun Tzu is less well known. Traditionally, he is believed to have been born in 544 BC and died in 496 BC, and it was during this time that the general, military strategist, and philosopher came up with strategies within the Art of War. The historicity of Sun Tzu might be uncertain, but the work attributed to him has certainly helped shape military strategy in the East, and more recently, the West. Its influence has grown from military endeavors to include politics, sports, business, and culture. The text concerns itself with the management and successful conclusion of battles.
With Sun Tzu standing shoulder to shoulder with other figures of Eastern antiquity, it is worth examining his legacy and the quotes attributed to him. One of the most famous quotes from Sun Tzu roughly translates as, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” He does not pull any punches in the book, highlighting several times the cost of fighting and the inevitable defeat of the less prepared. Translations of Sun Tzu’s quotes are valuable to all sorts of conflict resolution in a reader’s life and this curated collection of excerpts from Art of War is a proof of that.
Table of Contents
- Best Art Of War Quotes by Sun Tzu
- Most Popular Art Of War Quotes by Sun Tzu
- Art Of War Quotes About Strategy by Sun Tzu
- The Art Of War – Sun Tzu’s Quotes on Leadership
- Art Of War Quotes On Images
- The Book
Best Art Of War Quotes by Sun Tzu
- The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Opportunities multiply as they are seized. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- The worst calamities that befall an army arise from hesitation. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy. 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, 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. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Who wishes to fight must first count the cost. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- 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, The Art of War
- The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- The wise warrior avoids the battle. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- 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, The Art of War
- One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Great results, can be achieved with small forces. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Wheels of justice gind slow but grind fine. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Be where your enemy is not. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- It is best to keep one’s own state intact; to crush the enemy’s state is only second best. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Most Popular Art Of War Quotes by Sun Tzu
- Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Foreknowledge cannot be gotten from ghosts and spirits, cannot be had by analogy, cannot be found out by calculation. It must be obtained from people, people who know the conditions of the enemy. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- 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, The Art of War
- What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- 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, The Art of War
- Ιf you fight with all your might, there is a chance of life; where as death is certain if you cling to your corner. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Art Of War Quotes About Strategy by Sun Tzu
- Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- 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, The Art of War
- 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. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected . Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- When your army has crossed the border, you should burn your boats and bridges, in order to make it clear to everybody that you have no hankering after home. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- 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, The Art of War
- You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Bravery without forethought, causes a man to fight blindly and desperately like a mad bull. Such an opponent, must not be encountered with brute force, but may be lured into an ambush and slain. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain secret, which leads to victory; show your dispositions, and your condition will become patent, which leads to defeat. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
The Art Of War – Sun Tzu’s Quotes on Leadership
- Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- 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 Art of War
- If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame. But, if orders are clear and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their oficers. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- If there is disturbance in the camp, the general’s authority is weak. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- When one treats people with benevolence, justice, and righteoousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- 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. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is INSUBORDINATION. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
- When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is COLLAPSE. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Art Of War Quotes On Images
The Book
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