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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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Sun Tzu
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Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
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More quotes by Sun Tzu

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He who wishes to fight must first count the cost
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When the general is weak and without authority when his orders are not clear and distinct when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganization.
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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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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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The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.
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When the thunderclap comes, there is no time to cover the ears.
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Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small. The difficult things in this world must be done while they are easy, the greatest things in the world must be done while they are still small. For this reason sages never do what is great, and this is why they achieve greatness.
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Winning isn't enough. The acme of all skill is to defeat your enemy before taking the field.
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So there are five ways of knowing who will win. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight are victorious. Those who discern when to use many or few troops are victorious. Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious.
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Being unconquerable lies with yourself being conquerable lies with your enemy.
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Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans, the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces, the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field, and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.
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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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Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.
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To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape.
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All war is based on deception.
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Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuver. What is difficult about maneuver is to make the devious route the most direct and to turn misfortune to advantage.
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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.
Sun Tzu
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In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them.
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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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Without harmony in the State, no military expedition can be undertaken without harmony in the army, no battle array can be formed.
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