Sun-tzu (400 BC-496)

Quotes

• All warfare is based on deception. There is no place where espionage is not used. Offer the enemy bait to lure him.

• Appraise war in terms of the fundamental factors. The first of these factors is moral influence.

• Don't flail against the world, use it. Flexibility is the operative principle in the art of war.

• Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

• Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.

• Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.

• Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuvering for advantageous positions.

• Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.

• 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.

• The ruler cannot mobilize the army out of personal anger. The general cannot engage in battle because of personal frustration. Anger can revert to happiness, annoyance can revert to joy, but a vanquished state cannot be revived, the dead cannot be brought back to life.

• War is based on deception.

• To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

• If you are near the enemy, make him believe you are far from him.
  If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.

• To conquer the enemy without resorting to war is the most desirable. The highest form of generalship is to conquer the enemy by strategy.

• War is a matter of vital importance to the State; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied.

• A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.

• Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

• The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win without fighting.

• 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.

• Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first then seek to win.