The Art of War – Sun Tzu

Having reviewed Good Strategy, Bad Strategy earlier, I thought it might be worth posting some quotes from Sun Tzu’s Art of War to provide some balance – there’s nothing like going back to the classics, after all.

Deception

 “All warfare is based on deception.”

“Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, then crush him.”

Leadership

“Confront your soldiers with the deed itself; never let them know your design. When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.”

“At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. He carries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows his hand.”

Victory

“To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”

“The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed on him.”

“Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possible attacks; numerical strength, from compelling our adversary to make these preparations against us.”

“In war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.”

“In raiding and plundering be like fire, in immovability like a mountain.”

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