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If not in the interests of the state, do not act. If you cannot succeed, do not use troops. If you are not in danger, do not fight.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
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Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
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More quotes by Sun Tzu

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It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him if five to one, to attack him if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.
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Thus those skilled in war subdue the enemy's army without battle .... They conquer by strategy.
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Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.
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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.
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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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Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits it cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.
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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.
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Know thy enemy and know thy self and you will win a hundred battles.
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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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Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.
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The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.
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Unless you enter the tiger's lair, you cannot get hold of the tiger's cub's.
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The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.
Sun Tzu
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Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.
Sun Tzu
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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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In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.
Sun Tzu
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So a military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape: the ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius.
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And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him.
Sun Tzu
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Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow.
Sun Tzu
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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.
Sun Tzu