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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.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
War
Officers
Strong
Soldiers
Art
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Soldier
Result
Weak
Results
Insubordination
Common
Strategist

More quotes by Sun Tzu

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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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Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.
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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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And regulation entails organizational effectiveness, a chain of command, and a structure for logistical support.
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Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.
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Quickness is the essence of the war.
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Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is master of his enemy's fate.
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A clever general... avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This is the art of studying moods. Disciplined and calm, he awaits the appearance of disorder and hubbub among the enemy. This is the art of retaining self-possession.
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There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.
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Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.
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He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
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So the important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence.
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When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.
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Until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared
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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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In the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.
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To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful... It does not take much strength to lift a hair, it does not take sharp eyes to see the sun and moon, it does not take sharp ears to hear the thunderclap.
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Maneuvering with an army is advantageous with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.
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The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.
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Order or disorder depends on organisation and direction courage or cowardice on circumstances strength or weakness on tactical dispositions.
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