Quote

When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.

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
Soldiers
Soldier
Stand
Food
War
Art
Leaning
Spears
Faint

More quotes by Sun Tzu

Image
Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.
Sun Tzu
Image
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.
Sun Tzu
Image
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.
Sun Tzu
Image
Without harmony in the State, no military expedition can be undertaken without harmony in the army, no battle array can be formed.
Sun Tzu
Image
So the important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence.
Sun Tzu
Image
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night.
Sun Tzu
Image
One who sets the entire army in motion to chase an advantage will not attain it.
Sun Tzu
Image
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
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
Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise, for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.
Sun Tzu
Image
He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
Sun Tzu
Image
Do not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy's terms.
Sun Tzu
Image
To persuade your enemy to (retreat) before the fight is to defeat them even before the battle begins. An enemy made ally is no longer an enemy.
Sun Tzu
Image
There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefitted.
Sun Tzu
Image
The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.
Sun Tzu
Image
The King is only fond of words, and cannot translate them into deeds.
Sun Tzu
Image
When the general is weak and without authority when his orders are not clear and distinct when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganization.
Sun Tzu
Image
Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans, the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces, the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field, and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.
Sun Tzu
Image
He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.
Sun Tzu
Image
It is imperative to contest all factions for complete victory, so the army is not garrisoned and the profit can be total. This is the law of strategic siege.
Sun Tzu