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What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Essential
Essentials
Army
Victory
War
Art
Prolonged
Operations

More quotes by Sun Tzu

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We may distinguish six kinds of terrain, to wit: (1) Accessible ground (2) entangling ground (3) temporising ground (4) narrow passes (5) precipitous heights (6) positions at a great distance from the enemy.
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Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.
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The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch'ang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.
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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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Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.
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Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.
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Kill one, terrify a thousand.
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Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity.
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When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.
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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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Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.
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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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Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.
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Factors in the art of warfare are: First, calculations second, quantities third, logistics fourth, the balance of power and fifth, the possibility of victory is based on the balance of power.
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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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You cannot know if you will be successful or not. You can only prepare for battle and it must be done with all of your heart and with all of your consciousness. In that manner, you will have an edge.
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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.
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The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat: - let such a one be dismissed!
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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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Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy forceful execution of even a poor plan can often bring victory.
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