Quote collection
450 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Generally, management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization. And to control many is the same as to control few. This is a matter of formations and signals."
"Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business."
"Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him"
"Order or disorder depends on organisation and direction; courage or cowardice on circumstances; strength or weakness on tactical dispositions."
"A wise general makes a point of foraging of the enemy."
"When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard."
"To ... not prepare is the greatest of crimes; to be prepared beforehand for any contingency is the greatest of virtues."
"He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces."
"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."
"He who knows things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated."
"Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical."
"It is through the dispositions of an army that its condition may be discovered. Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain secret, which leads to victory,; show your dispositions, and your condition will become patent, which leads to defeat."
"For 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."
"In warfare, there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent will succeed and win."
"Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits."
"In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack.. the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers."
"the leader of armies is the arbiter of the people's fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril."
"There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted."
"One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant."
"Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance."