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One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Inadequate
Attacks
Army
Strength
Defends
Abundant

More quotes by Sun Tzu

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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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Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.
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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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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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If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle
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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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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.
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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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The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent's strategy.
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However desperate the situation and circumstances, don't despair. When there is everything to fear, be unafraid. When surrounded by dangers, fear none of them. When without resources, depend on resourcefulness. When surprised, take the enemy by surprise.
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Therefore the skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting he captures their cities without laying siege to them he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.
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Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.
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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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The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.
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There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
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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.
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Attack is the secret of defense defense is the planning of an attack.
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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.
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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.
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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. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack.. the direct and the indirect yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
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