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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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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Winning
Battles
War
Wins
Firsts
Seeks
First
Defeated
Army
Victory
Battle
Therefore
Victorious

More quotes by Sun Tzu

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The supreme excellence is not to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles. The supreme excellence is to subdue the armies of your enemies without having to fight them.
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The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent's strategy.
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The skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting.
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When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.
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When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal.
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Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.
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O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands.
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The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy
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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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Do not press an enemy at bay. Prince Fu Ch'ai said: Wild beasts, when at bay, fight desperately. How much more is this true of men! If they know there is no alternative, they will fight to the death.
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He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.
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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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The Art of War is self-explanatory
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He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.
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In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace. The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence under no circumstances can it be neglected.
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In a position of this sort, even though the enemy should offer us an attractive bait, it will be advisable not to stir forth, but rather to retreat, thus enticing the enemy in his turn then, when part of his army has come out, we may deliver our attack with advantage.
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Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.
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In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
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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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There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.
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