QUOTES FROM --THE ART OF WAR BY MASTER SUN TZU

 The Art Of War by Sun Tzu

1. Heaven is
Ying and Yang,
Cold and hot,
The cycle of seasons.

2. Earth is
Height and depth,
Distance and proximity,
Ease and danger,
Open and confined ground,
Life and death

3. Heed my plan,
Employ me,
And victory is surely yours;
I will stay

Do not heed my plan
And even if you did employ me,
You will surely be defeated;
I will depart.

4. The Way of War is
A way of deception.

When able
Feign inability

When deploying troops,
Appear not to be.

When near,
Appear far;

When far
Appear near

Lure with bait
Strike with chaos

If the enemy is full
Be prepared

If strong,
Avoid him

If he is angry,
Disconcert him.

If he is weak,
Stir him to pride.

If he is relaxed,
Harry him;

If his men are harmonious
Split them

Attack
Where he is
Unprepared

Appear
Where you are
Unexpected.

5. I have heard that in war
Haste can be
Folly
But have never seen
Delay that was
Wise.

6. In chariot fighting,
When more than ten
Enemy chariots are captured,
The man to take the first
Should be rewarded.

7. Treat prisoners of war kindly,
And care for them.

8. Ultimate excellence lies
Not in winning
Every battle
But in defeating the enemy
Without ever fighting.

9.The skilful strategist
Defeats the enemy
Without doing battle

10. There are Five Essentials
For victory;

Know when to fight
And when not to fight;

Understand how to deploy
Large and small
Numbers;

Have officers and men who
Share a single will;

Be ready
For the unexpected;

Have a capable general,
Unhampered by his sovereign.

11. 'Know the enemy,
Know yourself,
And victory
Is never in doubt,
Not in a hundred battles.'

12. Invulnerability is
Defence
Vulnerability is
Attack.

Defence implies
Lack;
Attack implies
Abundance

13. Managing many
Is the same as
Managing few;
It is a question of
Division.

14. Weakness
Stems from
Preparing against attack
Strength
Stems from
Obliging the enemy
To prepare against an attack

15. There are roads
Not to take.
There are armies
Not to attack
There are towns
Not to besiege.
There are terrains
Not to contest.
There are ruler's orders
Not to obey.

16. Humble words, coupled with
Increased preparations,
Are a sign
Of impending attack;

Strong words, coupled with
An aggressive advance,
Are a sign
Of impending retreat.

17. Men who have
Faced death
Can achieve anything

18. A ruler
Must never
Mobilize his men
Out of anger;
A general
Must never
Engage battle
Out of spite.