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Attack is the secret of defense defense is the planning of an attack.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Attack
Planning
Defense
Secret
War
Art

More quotes by Sun Tzu

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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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When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped to go rolling down.
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It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy upright and just, and thus maintain order.
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If this is long delayed, weapons are blunted and morale depressed.
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If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.
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In all history, there is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. Only one who knows the disastrous effects of a long war can realize the supreme importance of rapidity in bringing it to a close.
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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.
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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.
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With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.
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For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards.
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Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.
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The military has no constant form, just as water has no constant shape - adapt as you face the enemy, without letting them know beforehand what you are going to do.
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Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory.
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When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.
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If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented. The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless: if it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it nor the wise make plans against it.
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Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.
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Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement.
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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 all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.
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Don't flail against the world, use it. Flexibility is the operative principle in the art of war.
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