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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.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
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More quotes by Sun Tzu

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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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If you follow the enemy's shifts and changes, you can always find a way to win.
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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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Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.
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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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In the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.
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Use humility to make the enemy haughty. Tire them by flight. Cause division among them. When they are unprepared, attack and make your move when they do not expect it.
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Like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.
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When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped to go rolling down.
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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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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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According to my assessment, even if you have many more troops than others, how can that help you to victory?
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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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The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat: - let such a one be dismissed!
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He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
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With regard to narrow passes, if you can occupy them first, let them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy.
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It is through the dispositions of an army that its condition may be discovered. Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain secret, which leads to victory, show your dispositions, and your condition will become patent, which leads to defeat.
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It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy upright and just, and thus maintain order.
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Those skilled in attack move as from above the nine-fold heavens. Thus they are capable both of protecting themselves and of gaining complete victory.
Sun Tzu
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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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