The Art of War

  • The Art of War is a Treatise on Military Strategy, written by Sun Tzu (544-496 BCE), a Chinese Military Stategist during the Spring and Autumn Period. It is included as one of the Seven Military Classics,
  • The Western equivalent from the Ancient World was written in 78 CE by the Roman General Frontinus, and is also called ‘The Art of War’, but is now a Lost work. However, the Appendix on Strategy, called Strategemata has survived.

Quotes from the Art of War

    • ‘A leader leads by example, not by force.’
    • ‘All war is deception.’
    • ‘Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.’
    • ‘Attack is the secret of defense. Defense is the planning of an attack.’
    • ‘Contemplate and deliberate before you make a move.’
    • ‘Do not repeat the tactics that have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.’
    • ‘Every battle is won before it is ever fought.’
    • ‘In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.’
    • ‘In war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.’
    • ‘It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy.’
    • ‘It is more important to outthink your enemy than to outfight him’.
    • ‘Keep your friends close, your enemies even closer.’
    • ‘Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organisation.’
    • ‘Opportunities multiply as they are seized.’
    • ‘Quickness is the essence of war.’
    • ‘Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.’
    • ‘The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.’
    • ‘The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.’
    • ‘The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.’
    • ‘The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.’
    • ‘The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot comprehend our real intent.’
    • ‘The wise warrior avoids the battle.’
    • ‘There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.’
    • ‘To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.’
    • ‘Treat your men as your own much loved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.’
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