Quote collection
450 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow...they have form but are formless. They are skilled in both planning and adapting and need not fear the result of a thousand battles: for they win in advance, defeating those that have already lost."
"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."
"If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things."
"In conflict, straightforward actions generally lead to engagement, surprising actions generally lead to victory."
"What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations."
"When one treats people with benevolence, justice and righteousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders."
"Don't flail against the world, use it. Flexibility is the operative principle in the art of war."
"The skilful employer of men will employ the wise man, the brave man, the covetous man, and the stupid man."
"The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy."
"Of old the expert in battle would first make himself invincible and then wait for his enemy to expose his vulnerability."
"O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands."
"If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near."
"No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique."
"If the enemy opens the door, you must race in."
"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable."
"A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective."
"The greatest victory is that which requires no battle."
"If you are strong, appear weak. But if you are weak, appear strong."
"Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer."
"In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power."