Quote

The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch'ang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.

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
Strikes
Snake
Mountain
Skillful
Head
Tail
Middle
Attacked
War
Snakes
Found
Tails
Art
Strike
Tactician
May
Mountains
Likened

More quotes by Sun Tzu

Image
The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
Sun Tzu
Image
Great results, can be achieved with small forces.
Sun Tzu
Image
Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.
Sun Tzu
Image
So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak. 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
Image
These are the six ways of courting defeat - neglect to estimate the enemy's strength want of authority defective training unjustifiable anger nonobservance of discipline failure to use picked men.
Sun Tzu
Image
Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend march swiftly to places where you are not expected.
Sun Tzu
Image
The value of time, that is of being a little ahead of your opponent, often provides greater advantage than superior numbers or greater resources.
Sun Tzu
Image
The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points and his forces being thus distributed in many directions, the numbers we shall have to face at any given point will be proportionately few.
Sun Tzu
Image
The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.
Sun Tzu
Image
Pretend to be weak, so your enemy may grow arrogant.
Sun Tzu
Image
When you shoot a bow and arrow, you aim at the clouds, not because you expect to hit them, but so that you may reach the distant target on the ground.
Sun Tzu
Image
Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits it cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.
Sun Tzu
Image
If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the officers are angry, it means that the men are weary.
Sun Tzu
Image
Until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared
Sun Tzu
Image
The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.
Sun Tzu
Image
One need not destroy one's enemy. One need only destroy his willingness to engage.
Sun Tzu
Image
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.
Sun Tzu
Image
All warfare is based on deception. There is no place where espionage is not used. Offer the enemy bait to lure him.
Sun Tzu
Image
What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.
Sun Tzu
Image
When you do battle, even if you are winning, if you continue for a long time it will dull your forces and blunt you edge...If you keep your armies out in the field for a long time, your supplies will be insufficient. Transportation of provisions itself consumes 20 times the amount transported.
Sun Tzu