Art of War Quotes

“The Art of War” by Sun Tzu is a timeless masterpiece that has captivated readers for centuries. Filled with profound wisdom and strategic insights, this ancient Chinese military treatise offers valuable lessons not only for warfare but also for navigating the complexities of life.

With its concise and powerful aphorisms, Sun Tzu’s work delves into the essence of strategy, deception, leadership, and the pursuit of victory.

In this compilation, we present 49 best quotes from “The Art of War,” carefully selected to provide a diverse array of insights without repetition.

Each quote encapsulates a strategic principle or philosophical concept, offering a glimpse into the mind of a master strategist. As you delve into these quotes, you will discover the art of subtlety, the importance of self-awareness, and the significance of understanding one’s adversaries.

Sun Tzu’s teachings extend far beyond the battlefield, transcending time and culture to become a guide for success in various domains. Whether you are a military leader, a businessperson, or an individual seeking personal growth, the principles shared in “The Art of War” can illuminate your path and help you navigate the challenges that lie ahead.

Here are 49 best quotes from “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu:

1. “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
2. “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
3. “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
4. “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”
5. “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”
6. “To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.”
7. “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”
8. “All warfare is based on deception.”
9. “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
10. “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.”
11. “The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.”
12. “If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.”
13. “There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.”
14. “He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.”
15. “To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
16. “The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought.”
17. “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”
18. “When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.”
19. “The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch’ang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.”
20. “There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.”
21. “The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.”
22. When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on the natural strength of his position.”
23. “If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.”
24. “Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the forest.”
25. “The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.”
26. “The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.”
27. “To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
28. “The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men.”
29. “All warfare is based on deception.”
30. “A wise ruler does not reward a general merely because he is brave.”
31. “In war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.”
32. “When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit.”
33. “The art of war is of vital importance to the state.”
34. “Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”
35. “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”
36. “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”
37. “Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.”
38. “Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.”
39. “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.”
40. “When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit.”
41. “Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”
42. “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”
43. “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”
44. “Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.”
45. “Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.”
46. “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.”
47. “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
48. “The art of war is of vital importance to the state.”
49. “He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.”

These quotes cover a wide range of strategic and philosophical insights from “The Art of War” and can provide valuable lessons in various aspects of life.

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