60 The Art of War Quotes About War, Strategy, and Leadership

1. "A leader leads by example, not by force." - Sun Tzu

2. "It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy." - Sun Tzu

3. "Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death." - Sun Tzu

4. "We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors." - Sun Tzu

5. "If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak." - Sun Tzu

6. "The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand." - Sun Tzu

7. "The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success." - Sun Tzu

8. "Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of the trigger." - Sun Tzu

9. "The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven." - Sun Tzu

10. "No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique." - Sun Tzu

11. "The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom." - Sun Tzu

12. "When the leader is morally weak and his discipline not strict, when his instructions and guidance are not enlightened, when there are no consistent rules, neighboring rulers will take advantage of this." - Sun Tzu

13. "Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy; forceful execution of even a poor plan can often bring victory." - Sun Tzu

1. "In warfare, there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent will succeed and win." - Sun Tzu

2. "The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men." - Sun Tzu

3. "It is more important to outhink your enemy, than to outfight him" - Sun Tzu

4. "The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." - Sun Tzu

5. "One need not destroy one's enemy. One need only destroy his willingness to engage." - Sun Tzu

6. "If a battle can not be won do not fight it." - Sun Tzu

7. "To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy." - Sun Tzu

8. "Swift as the wind. Quiet as the forest. Conquer like the fire. Steady as the mountain" - Sun Tzu

9. "Convince your enemy that he will gain very little by attacking you; this will diminish his enthusiasm" - Sun Tzu

10. "To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."

11. "Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt."

12. "Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." - Sun Tzu

13. "What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy." - Sun Tzu

14. "The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary." - Sun Tzu

15. "Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack." - Sun Tzu

16. "All warfare is based on deception. There is no place where espionage is not used. Offer the enemy bait to lure him." - Sun Tzu

17. "If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant." - Sun Tzu

18. "Do not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy's terms." - Sun Tzu

19. "If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are." - Sun Tzu

20. "When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move."

21. "To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill."

22. "Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him."

1. "Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak." - Sun Tzu

2. "To know your enemy, you must become your enemy." - Sun Tzu

3. "Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances." - Sun Tzu

4. "He who wishes to fight must first count the cost" - Sun Tzu

5. "The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands" - Sun Tzu

6. "You can prevent your opponent from defeating you through defense, but you cannot defeat him without taking the offensive." - Sun Tzu

7. "The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself." - Sun Tzu

8. "In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity." - Sun Tzu

9. "Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems." - Sun Tzu

10. "Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price." - Sun Tzu

11. "Great results, can be achieved with small forces." - Sun Tzu

12. "Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer." - Sun Tzu

13. "Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow." - Sun Tzu

14. "The greatest victory is that which requires no battle." - Sun Tzu

15. "All wars are won or lost before they are ever fought." - Sun Tzu

16. "Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected." - Sun Tzu

17. "Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win." - Sun Tzu

18. "Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small." - Sun Tzu

19. "He who knows his enemy and himself well will not be defeated easily." - Sun Tzu

20. "Correct your mistake as soon as you have found it." - Sun Tzu

21. "Sweat more during peace: bleed less during war" - Sun Tzu

22. "To ... not prepare is the greatest of crimes; to be prepared beforehand for any contingency is the greatest of virtues." - Sun Tzu

23. "Opportunities increase as they are taken." - Sun Tzu

24. "However desperate the situation and circumstances, don't despair. When there is everything to fear, be unafraid. When surrounded by dangers, fear none of them. When without resources, depend on resourcefulness. When surprised, take the enemy by surprise." - Sun Tzu

25. "Ponder and deliberate before you make a move." - Sun Tzu