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To persuade your enemy to (retreat) before the fight is to defeat them even before the battle begins. An enemy made ally is no longer an enemy.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
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Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
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More quotes by Sun Tzu

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A clever general... avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This is the art of studying moods. Disciplined and calm, he awaits the appearance of disorder and hubbub among the enemy. This is the art of retaining self-possession.
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In conflict, straightforward actions generally lead to engagement, surprising actions generally lead to victory.
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Do not press an enemy at bay.
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The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.
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To capture the enemy's entire army is better than to destroy it to take intact a regiment, a company, or a squad is better than to destroy them. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the supreme of excellence. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence.
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Ponder and deliberate before you make your move. He will conquer who has learned the artifice of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering.
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The value of time, that is of being a little ahead of your opponent, often provides greater advantage than superior numbers or greater resources.
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When campaigning, be swift as the wind in leisurely march, majestic as the forest in raiding and plundering, like fire in standing, firm as the mountains. As unfathomable as the clouds, move like a thunderbolt.
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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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Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.
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Those who would wage war, should first eliminate all domestic enemies before proceeding to attack the external foe.
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In all history, there is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. Only one who knows the disastrous effects of a long war can realize the supreme importance of rapidity in bringing it to a close.
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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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Should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.
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Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men.
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He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
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Unless you enter the tiger's lair, you cannot get hold of the tiger's cub's.
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Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement.
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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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