Quote

In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact to shatter and destroy it is not so good.

Sun Tzu

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Good
Enemy
Stratagem
War
Shatter
Art
Strategist
Best
Intact
Take
Individualism
Whole
Practicals
Country
Practical
Thing
Destroy

More quotes by Sun Tzu

Image
Know the enemy and know yourself in a hundred battles you will never peril.
Sun Tzu
Image
It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.
Sun Tzu
Image
What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.
Sun Tzu
Image
Those who excel in war first cultivate their own humanity and and maintain their laws and institutions. By these means they make their governments invincible.
Sun Tzu
Image
When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal.
Sun Tzu
Image
In warfare, there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent will succeed and win.
Sun Tzu
Image
Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.
Sun Tzu
Image
Should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.
Sun Tzu
Image
In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack.. the direct and the indirect yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
Sun Tzu
Image
When campaigning, be swift as the wind in leisurely march, majestic as the forest in raiding and plundering, like fire in standing, firm as the mountains. As unfathomable as the clouds, move like a thunderbolt.
Sun Tzu
Image
With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.
Sun Tzu
Image
Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man.
Sun Tzu
Image
Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety.
Sun Tzu
Image
In war, practice dissimulation and you will succeed.
Sun Tzu
Image
Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt if you now Heaven and you know Earth, you may make your victory complete.
Sun Tzu
Image
It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus doubled agents are recruited and used.
Sun Tzu
Image
An army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water avoids the heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids strength and strikes weakness.
Sun Tzu
Image
There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.
Sun Tzu
Image
On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough hence the institution of gongs and drums... banners and flags. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular point.
Sun Tzu
Image
There are routes not to be followed, armies not to be attacked, citadels not to be besieged, territory not to be fought over.
Sun Tzu