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There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Prolonged
Warfare
Instance
Army
Nation
Nations
War
Benefiting

More quotes by Sun Tzu

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Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuver. What is difficult about maneuver is to make the devious route the most direct and to turn misfortune to advantage.
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Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.
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It is sufficient to estimate the enemy situation correctly and to concentrate your strength to capture him. There is no more to it than this. He who lacks foresight and underestimates his enemy will surely be captured by him.
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Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.
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Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.
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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.
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The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.
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He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.
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In conflict, straightforward actions generally lead to engagement, surprising actions generally lead to victory.
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If it is to your advantage, make a forward move if not, stay where you are.
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To capture the enemy's entire army is better than to destroy it to take intact a regiment, a company, or a squad is better than to destroy them. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the supreme of excellence. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence.
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The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.
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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.
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Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow decision, to the releasing of a trigger.
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There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
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Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.
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So there are five ways of knowing who will win. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight are victorious. Those who discern when to use many or few troops are victorious. Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious.
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Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety.
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We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors. We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country.
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Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve.
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