Sun Tzu Quotations | Page 3

So there are five ways of knowing who will win. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight are victorious. Those who discern when to use many or few troops are victorious. Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious.

These are six ways of courting defeat, which must be carefully noted by the general who has attained a responsible post.

The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.

The natural formation of the country is the soldier's best ally; but a power of estimating the adversary, of controlling the forces of victory, and of shrewdly calculating difficulties, dangers and distances, constitutes the test of a great general.

The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.

The one who figures on victory at headquarters before even doing battle is the one who has the most strategic factors on his side.

Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.

If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.

If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is death.

When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become, as it were, like rolling logs or stones... The energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height.