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The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
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Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Cannot
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Troops

More quotes by Sun Tzu

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There are routes not to be followed, armies not to be attacked, citadels not to be besieged, territory not to be fought over.
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Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.
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the leader of armies is the arbiter of the people's fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril.
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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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If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.
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If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need to do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way.
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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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If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if his orders are clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers.
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These are the six ways of courting defeat - neglect to estimate the enemy's strength want of authority defective training unjustifiable anger nonobservance of discipline failure to use picked men.
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Know the enemy and know yourself in a hundred battles you will never peril.
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Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.
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Know thy self, know thy enemy.
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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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All battles are won before they start.
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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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One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards is in deep distress. One who frequently imposes punishments is in great difficulty. One who is at first excessively brutal and then fears the masses is the pinnacle of stupidity.
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Therefore I say: know the enemy and know yourself in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.
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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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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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If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.
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