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So the principles of warfare are: Do not depend on the enemy not coming, but depend on our readiness against him. Do not depend on the enemy not attacking, but depend on our position that cannot be attacked.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Warfare
Depend
Depends
Coming
Position
Principles
Readiness
Enemy
Attacked
Cannot
Attacking

More quotes by Sun Tzu

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The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.
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In warfare, first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute strength alone, victory will no longer be assured.
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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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Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.
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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.
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To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful... It does not take much strength to lift a hair, it does not take sharp eyes to see the sun and moon, it does not take sharp ears to hear the thunderclap.
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Thus, though I have heard of successful military operations that were clumsy but swift, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.
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When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is insubordination. When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is collapse.
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Someone unfamiliar with the mountains and forests cannot advance [the team]. One who does not employ local guides cannot gain the advantage.
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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.
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Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.
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Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety.
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Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.
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If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is death.
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Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.
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Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.
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It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him if five to one, to attack him if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.
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Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory.
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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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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.
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