Sun Tzu Quotes from The Art of War

Sun Tzu quotes get passed around a long way from the book, and they change as they go. Every verse below is copied from Lionel Giles' 1910 translation, the same text printed in full in The Art of War Illustrated, and the numbers are Giles' own. If a line you know is missing, it may not be Sun Tzu's at all: sixteen popular ones are checked here. For what each chapter is about, see the chapter-by-chapter summary.

On winning before the battle

1. “Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.” (I. 26)
2. “Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” (III. 2)
3. “Thus the highest form of generalship is to baulk the enemy’s plans; the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy’s forces; the next in order is to attack the enemy’s army in the field; and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.” (III. 3)
4. “Sun Tzŭ said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.” (IV. 1)
5. “Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.” (IV. 15)
6. “Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” (III. 18)

On deception and surprise

1. “All warfare is based on deception.” (I. 18)
2. “Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.” (I. 19)
3. “Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.” (I. 24)
4. “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.” (VI. 9)
5. “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” (VII. 19)
6. “At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.” (XI. 68)

On speed and timing

1. “In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.” (II. 19)
2. “The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.” (V. 13)
3. “Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of the trigger.” (V. 15)
4. “Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy’s unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.” (XI. 19)
5. “Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the forest.” (VII. 17)
6. “In raiding and plundering be like fire, in immovability like a mountain.” (VII. 18)

On strength and weakness

1. “So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.” (VI. 30)
2. “Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.” (VI. 32)
3. “Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.” (V. 17)
4. “The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.” (IX. 22)
5. “Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men alike will put forth their uttermost strength.” (XI. 23)
6. “When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.” (VII. 36)

On leadership

1. “Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: (1) He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. (2) He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. (3) He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. (4) He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. (5) He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign. Victory lies in the knowledge of these five points.” (III. 17)
2. “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.” (VIII. 11)
3. “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.” (X. 24)
4. “Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.” (X. 25)
5. “Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline. This is a certain road to victory.” (IX. 43)
6. “But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.” (XII. 21)