"There is an intelligent way to eat a live frog - I just don't know what it is."
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Quote collection
Sun Tzu quotes (page 20 of 23)
450 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"If their forces are substantial, prepare for them; if their forces are strong, avoid them."
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"Probe him and learn where his strength is abundant and where deficient."
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"The military has no constant form, just as water has no constant shape - adapt as you face the enemy, without letting them know beforehand what you are going to do."
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"There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard."
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"If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve."
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"To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape."
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"Ground which can be freely traversed by both sides is called accessible."
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"Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss."
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"As water shapes its flow in accordance with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the situation of the enemy."
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"If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless."
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"Appraise war in terms of the fundamental factors. The first of these factors is moral influence."
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"When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but continues his preparations, he will advance. When their language is deceptive but the enemy pretentiously advances, he will retreat. When the envoys speak in apologetic terms, he wishes a respite. When without a previous understanding the enemy asks for a truce, he is plotting. When the enemy sees an advantage but does not advance to seize it, he is fatigued."
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"No nation has ever benefited from a prolonged war."
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"On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough; hence the institution of gongs and drums... banners and flags. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular point."
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"As water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions."
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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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"If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away."
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"So there are five ways of knowing who will win. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight are victorious. Those who discern when to use many or few troops are victorious. Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious."
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"I will be able to forecast which side will be victorious and which defeated."
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