Quote

Whoever is the first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy will be fresh for the fight... Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy... By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord or by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
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Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
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Field
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Damage
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Combatant
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Therefore
Fresh
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Awaits
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Draw
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First
Coming
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Accord

More quotes by Sun Tzu

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To plan secretly, to move surreptitiously, to foil the enemy's intentions and balk his schemes, so that at last the day may be won without shedding a drop of blood.
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Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity.
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Do not press an enemy at bay.
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A sovereign of high character and intelligence must be able to know the right man, should place the responsibility on him, and expect results.
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When campaigning, be swift as the wind in leisurely march, majestic as the forest in raiding and plundering, like fire in standing, firm as the mountains. As unfathomable as the clouds, move like a thunderbolt.
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If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is death.
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One who sets the entire army in motion to chase an advantage will not attain it.
Sun Tzu
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He whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious.
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Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.
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Like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.
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Thus, though I have heard of successful military operations that were clumsy but swift, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.
Sun Tzu
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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.
Sun Tzu
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One who speaks deferentially but increases his preparations will advance. One who speaks belligerently and advances hastily will retreat.
Sun Tzu
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Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.
Sun Tzu
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If you are situated at a great distance from the enemy, and the strength of the two armies is equal, it is not easy to provoke a battle, and fighting will be to your disadvantage.
Sun Tzu
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When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.
Sun Tzu
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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.
Sun Tzu
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Every battle is won before it is fought.
Sun Tzu
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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.
Sun Tzu
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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