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384 Powerful Sun Tzu Quotes to Inspire You

Attack | Battle | Courage | Deception | Enemy | Fight | General | Hidden Strength | Intelligence | Joining Battle | More

About Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu, an ancient Chinese military strategist, philosopher, and author, is best known for his influential work, "The Art of War". Little is known about his life, but he is believed to have lived during the Eastern Zhou period in the 5th century BCE. Sun Tzu’s teachings have transcended military applications and are widely applied in business, leadership, and personal development. His philosophy on strategy, leadership, and warfare remains a cornerstone of modern thought.

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Here are 384 Powerful quotes by Sun Tzu on various topics to inspire you.

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Sweat more during peace: bleed less during war

1. “Sweat more during peace: bleed less during war.”

Sweat, Peace, War, Preparation, Strategy

Should one ask: ‘how do I cope with a well-ordered

2. “Should one ask: ‘how do I cope with a well-ordered enemy host about to attack me?’ I reply: seize something he cherishes and he will conform to your desires.”

Enemy, Attack, Strategy, Conform, Seize

For the wise man delights in establishing his merit the

3. “For the wise man delights in establishing his merit, the brave man likes to show his courage in action, the covetous man is quick at seizing advantages, and the stupid man has no fear of death.”

Wisdom, Bravery, Advantage, Courage, Action

You have to believe in yourself

4. “You have to believe in yourself.”

Belief, Self, Strength, Confidence, Victory

Therefore the victories of good warriors are not noted for

5. “Therefore the victories of good warriors are not noted for cleverness or bravery. Therefore their victories in battle are not flukes. Their victories are not flukes because they position themselves where they will surely win, prevailing over those wh.”

Warriors, Victory, Battle, Position, Strategy

Ponder and deliberate before you make your move He will

6. “Ponder and deliberate before you make your move. He will conquer who has learned the artifice of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering.”

Ponder, Move, Deviation, Strategy, Victory

Attack where he is unprepared; sally forth when he does

7. “Attack where he is unprepared; sally forth when he does not expect you.”

Attack, Unprepared, Surprise, Enemy, Strategy

What is of supreme importance in war is to attack

8. “What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy.”

War, Importance, Attack, Enemy, Strategy

If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself you are

9. “If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.”

Ignorance, Enemy, Self, Peril, Strategy

Appraise war in terms of the fundamental factors The first

10. “Appraise war in terms of the fundamental factors. The first of these factors is moral influence.”

War, Factors, Appraisal, Influence, Strategy

In a position of this sort even though the enemy

11. “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.”

Bait, Enemy, Retreat, Attack, Strategy

The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of

12. “The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.”

Decision, Quality, Falcon, Strategy, Timing

Invincibility depends on one’s self; the enemy’s vulnerability on him

13. “Invincibility depends on one’s self; the enemy’s vulnerability on him.”

Invincibility, Self, Vulnerability, Enemy, Strategy

The skilful employer of men will employ the wise man

14. “The skilful employer of men will employ the wise man, the brave man, the covetous man, and the stupid man.”

Employer, Men, Wisdom, Bravery, Strategy

Know yourself and you will win all battles

15. “Know yourself and you will win all battles.”

Knowledge, Self, Victory, Battle, Strategy

The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy so that

16. “The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”

Secret, Confusion, Enemy, Strategy, Intent

To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is

17. “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.”

Victory, Skill, Battle, Enemy, Strategy

All warfare is based on deception Hence when we are

18. “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

Warfare, Deception, Attack, Forces, Strategy

It is imperative to contest all factions for complete victory

19. “It is imperative to contest all factions for complete victory, so the army is not garrisoned and the profit can be total. This is the law of strategic siege.”

Factions, Victory, Army, Siege, Strategy

Being unconquerable lies with yourself; being conquerable lies with your

20. “Being unconquerable lies with yourself; being conquerable lies with your enemy.”

Unconquerable, Enemy, Victory, Strength, Strategy

He will win who prepared himself waits to take the

21. “He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.”

Preparation, Enemy, Victory, Patience, Strategy

Be subtle be subtle and use your spies for every

22. “Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.”

Subtlety, Spies, Deception, Strategy, Intelligence

Therefore the skillful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any

23. “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.”

Leader, Enemy, Troops, Strategy, Victory

Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy

24. “Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he will retreat.”

Words, Preparation, Enemy, Retreat, Advance

Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle but in

25. “Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.”

Excellence, Battle, Enemy, Victory, Peace

First learn to become invincible then wait for your enemy’s

26. “First learn to become invincible, then wait for your enemy’s moment of vulnerability.”

Invincible, Enemy, Vulnerability, Strategy, Patience

Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood

27. “Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”

Wind, Wood, Fire, Mountain, Strategy

Therefore to estimate the enemy situation and to calculate distances

28. “Therefore, to estimate the enemy situation and to calculate distances and the degree of difficulty of the terrain so as to control victory are virtues of the superior general.”

Enemy, Terrain, Strategy, General, Victory

The ultimate in disposing one’s troops is to be without

29. “The ultimate in disposing one’s troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.”

Troops, Shape, Spies, Deception, Strategy

The rising of birds in their flight is the sign

30. “The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.”

Birds, Beasts, Ambuscade, Attack, Warning