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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
Victory
Battle
Therefore
Victorious
Winning
Battles
War
Wins
Firsts
Seeks
First
Defeated
Army

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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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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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Until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared
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Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
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It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them if five times, attack them if double, be able to divide them if equal, engage them if fewer, defend against them if weaker, be able to avoid them.
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The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.
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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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One who speaks deferentially but increases his preparations will advance. One who speaks belligerently and advances hastily will retreat.
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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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The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
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Move not unless you see an advantage use not your troops unless there is something to be gained fight not unless the position is critical.
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In the tumult and uproar, the battle seems chaotic, but there is no disorder, the troops appear to be milling about in circles but cannot be defeated.
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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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Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow.
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He who wishes to fight must first count the cost
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Probe him and learn where his strength is abundant and where deficient.
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Should the enemy forestall you in occupying a pass, do not go after him if the pass is fully garrisoned, but only if it is weakly garrisoned.
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For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards.
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There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.
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Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.
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