Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzuwas a Chinese general, military strategist, and philosopher who lived in the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, a widely influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and Eastern philosophy. Aside from his legacy as the author of The Art of War, Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and Asian culture as a legendary historical figure. His birth name was Sun Wu,...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionPhilosopher
CountryChina
army people exhausted
Where the army is, prices are high; when prices rise the wealth of the people is exhausted.
art-of-war army suffering
The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat: - let such a one be dismissed!
waiting enemy firsts
First learn to become invincible, then wait for your enemy's moment of vulnerability.
thank-you veterans-day art
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.
greatness sage done
Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small. The difficult things in this world must be done while they are easy, the greatest things in the world must be done while they are still small. For this reason sages never do what is great, and this is why they achieve greatness.
army winning victory
Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.
enemy able disposition
If I am able to determine the enemy's dispositions while at the same time I conceal my own, then I can concentrate and he must divide.
punishment stupidity together
One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards is in deep distress. One who frequently imposes punishments is in great difficulty. One who is at first excessively brutal and then fears the masses is the pinnacle of stupidity.
espionage
There is no place where espionage is not possible.
soldier height ladders
The business of a general is to kick away the ladder behind soldiers when they have climbed up a height.
art-of-war fire mountain
Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain
land enemy weapons
Without local guides, your enemy employs the land as a weapon against you.
army secret victory
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.
opponents height strategy
The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent's strategy.