Quote

He who wishes to fight must first count the cost

Sun Tzu

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
First
Must
Wishes
Count
Cost
Fight
Fighting
Wish
Firsts

More quotes by Sun Tzu

Image
For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards.
Sun Tzu
Image
War is a matter of vital importance to the state the province of life or death the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied.
Sun Tzu
Image
Engage people with what they expect it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment - that which they cannot anticipate.
Sun Tzu
Image
The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.
Sun Tzu
Image
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.
Sun Tzu
Image
To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape.
Sun Tzu
Image
If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the officers are angry, it means that the men are weary.
Sun Tzu
Image
All war is based on deception.
Sun Tzu
Image
Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man.
Sun Tzu
Image
Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.
Sun Tzu
Image
Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement.
Sun Tzu
Image
The natural formation of the country is the soldier's best ally but a power of estimating the adversary, of controlling the forces of victory, and of shrewdly calculating difficulties, dangers and distances, constitutes the test of a great general.
Sun Tzu
Image
He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
Sun Tzu
Image
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.
Sun Tzu
Image
A battle avoided cannot be lost.
Sun Tzu
Image
The military has no constant form, just as water has no constant shape - adapt as you face the enemy, without letting them know beforehand what you are going to do.
Sun Tzu
Image
When the thunderclap comes, there is no time to cover the ears.
Sun Tzu
Image
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.
Sun Tzu
Image
If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented. The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless: if it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it nor the wise make plans against it.
Sun Tzu
Image
Order or disorder depends on organisation and direction courage or cowardice on circumstances strength or weakness on tactical dispositions.
Sun Tzu