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Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits it cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Obtained
Calculations
Spirits
War
Experience
Elicited
Spirit
Deductive
Art
Foreknowledge
Cannot
Calculation

More quotes by Sun Tzu

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The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.
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In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.
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If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.
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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.
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Bestow rewards without respect to customary practice publish orders without respect to precedent. Thus you may employ the entire army as you would one man.
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In a position of this sort, even though the enemy should offer us an attractive bait, it will be advisable not to stir forth, but rather to retreat, thus enticing the enemy in his turn then, when part of his army has come out, we may deliver our attack with advantage.
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If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.
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Therefore I say: know the enemy and know yourself in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.
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Use humility to make the enemy haughty. Tire them by flight. Cause division among them. When they are unprepared, attack and make your move when they do not expect it.
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Opportunities multiply as they are seized.
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One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant.
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It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see the outward aspects, none understands the way in which I have created victory.
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When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.
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Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.
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Kill one, terrify a thousand.
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To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape.
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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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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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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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Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.
Sun Tzu