158 The Art of War Quotes to Inspire Your Inner General

The Art of War quotes enlighten all of us with the tactics of handling ourselves and the world around us. You are a warrior in the world and you need to play it around with great strategy to win.

The Art of War quotes are pieces of exceptional information which you will come across. Once you read through these, you are bound to get surprised by these wise words.

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War quotes are incredible for anyone who thinks they might not be able to get through problems in life. His book is utter inspiration for anyone who reads it!

The Art of War book quotes are pieces of wisdom and like weapons for us which can be used in our daily lives as well. Do not be afraid of the difficulties. Fight with honor. React with grace.

Plan and take steps brilliantly. Understand the art of war properly. Do not let yourself down at all. Build up your knowledge and get inspired by reading our intellectual collection of quotes.

Best the Art of War Quotes

War is an interesting aspect of life. Many fight bravely. A lot get worried. You are responsible for your war in life. You can not blame others for your doings. Know more reading best quotes from The Art of War. Learning these Sun Tzu quotes will make you a wiser and more strategic person.

Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day. –Sun Tzu

Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances. –Sun Tzu
Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley. –Sun Tzu
Be extremely subtle even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate. –Sun Tzu
Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him. –Sun Tzu
The wise warrior avoids the battle. –Sun Tzu
Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will. –Sun Tzu
If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless. –Sun Tzu
The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent. –Sun Tzu
If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak. –Sun Tzu

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. –Sun Tzu
When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are not clear and distinct; when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganization. –Sun Tzu
If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding. –Sun Tzu
Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death. –Sun Tzu
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. –Sun Tzu
A leader leads by example not by force. –Sun Tzu

Famous the Art of War Quotes

These famous quotes from The Art of War seem easily understandable. You can get the idea by reading at once. However, we recommend you read more than one time to comprehend them deeply.

The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin.
The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one’s deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.
All warfare is based on deception.

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
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.
There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.
The skillful soldier does not raise a second levy, neither are his supply-wagons loaded more than twice.
A wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy’s provisions is equivalent to twenty of one’s own, and likewise a single picul of his provender is equivalent to twenty from one’s own store.
In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.
In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy’s country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.
There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his army:— (1) By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army. (2) By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the soldier’s minds. (3) By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.
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. –Sun Tzu

If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are. –Sun Tzu
If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete. –Sun Tzu
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt. –Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu the Art of War Quotes

Sun Tzu is a great name. According to him you need to discipline yourself first no matter what task you are about to take up. Famous quotes from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War make it obvious to you.

Bravery without forethought, causes a man to fight blindly and desperately like a mad bull. Such an opponent, must not be encountered with brute force, but may be lured into an ambush and slain. –Sun Tzu
One may know how to conquer without being able to do it. –Sun Tzu
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity. –Sun Tzu
There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare. –Sun Tzu
When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard. –Sun Tzu
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. –Sun Tzu

Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate. –Sun Tzu
So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak. –Sun Tzu
Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain. –Sun Tzu
It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy. –Sun Tzu
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. –Sun Tzu
Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. –Sun Tzu

Leadership the Art of War Quotes

Leadership is a responsibility. You need to acquire good skills to be a good leader. This book will give you a lot of insight as to how you can become a leader! The Art of War leadership quotes are a must read for leadership qualities!

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. –Sun Tzu
The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven. –Sun Tzu
The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success. –Sun Tzu

Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength. –Sun Tzu
Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted. –Sun Tzu
The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim. –Sun Tzu
All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved. –Sun Tzu
He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain. –Sun Tzu
The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain. –Sun Tzu
Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical. –Sun Tzu
No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique. –Sun Tzu
What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge. –Sun Tzu

Strategy the Art of War Quotes

Strategy in war is the essence of every plan. The strategy followed to fight a battle is the main element to win it. The Art of War strategy quotes will give you great guidance and recommendations.

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. –Sun Tzu
If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him. –Sun Tzu
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. –Sun Tzu
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. –Sun Tzu
The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. –Sun Tzu
You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended. –Sun Tzu
Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight. –Sun Tzu
In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them. –Sun Tzu
Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient. –Sun Tzu
To take a long and circuitous route, after enticing the enemy out of the way, and though starting after him, to contrive to reach the goal before him, shows knowledge of the artifice of deviation. –Sun Tzu

Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the forest. –Sun Tzu
In raiding and plundering be like fire, in immovability like a mountain. –Sun Tzu
Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety. –Sun Tzu
Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear, and subtly contrive to time his arrival on the ground. –Sun Tzu
Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodate yourself to the enemy until you can fight a decisive battle. –Sun Tzu

The Art of War Quotes about War

The art of war is not easy to learn. You take part in life battles. You fail. This is not the end. Even a victory is not an end to a war as it leads onto to others. A well-fought battle is a model for all. You learn with the principles of the opponents. The Art of War sayings about war will elaborate it further for you.

You may advance and be absolutely irresistible, if you make for the enemy’s weak points; you may retire and be safe from pursuit if your movements are more.
By discovering the enemy’s dispositions and remaining invisible ourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated, while the enemy’s must be divided.
Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possible attacks; numerical strength, from compelling our adversary to make these preparations against us.
In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them; conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying of the subtlest spies, from the machinations of the wisest brains.

So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.
Just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.
Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.
We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country—its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps.
Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.
He will conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering.
In night-fighting, then, make much use of signalfires and drums, and in fighting by day, of flags and banners, as a means of influencing the ears and eyes of your army.

The Art of War Quotes about Knowing Your Enemy

Knowing your enemy in war is crucial. You can not fight better without knowing your enemy. You need to learn the tactics of the enemy. Learn to read the mind of the opponent. The Art of War quotes about knowing your enemy enhances your understanding of the subject.

It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.
In the wise leader’s plans, considerations of advantage and of disadvantage will be blended together.

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.
There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: (1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction; (2) cowardice, which leads to capture; (3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; (4) a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame;
(5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.
All armies prefer high ground to low and sunny places to dark.
While we keep away from such places, we should get the enemy to approach them; while we face them, we should let the enemy have them on his rear.
Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.
He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.
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.
We may distinguish six kinds of terrain, to wit: (1) Accessible ground; (2) entangling ground; (3) temporizing ground; (4) narrow passes; (5) precipitous heights; (6) positions at a great distance from the enemy.
Now an army is exposed to six several calamities, not arising from natural causes, but from faults for which the general is responsible. These are: (1) Flight; (2) insubordination; (3) collapse; (4) ruin; (5) disorganization; (6) rout.

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding.

The Art of War Quotes for Business

Business owners follow brilliant strategies to grow. This is art. Not everyone can handle it. The Art of War quotes for business will educate you further. Read and reproduce your strategy.

A leader leads by example, not by force.
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought
The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.
Opportunities multiply as they are seized.

Sometimes we need to lose the small battles in order to win the war.
If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.
Secret operations are essential in war; upon them, the army relies to make its every move.
It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy’s strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, be able to evade them; if weaker, be able to avoid them.
The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities. It is best to win without fighting.
A Clever General avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This is the art of studying moods.
Disciplined and calm, he awaits the appearance of disorder and hubbub amongst the enemy: -this is the art of retaining self-possession.
He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

The Art of War Quotes on Patience

Patience is fundamental to achieve success in life. The attitude of patience is appreciated everywhere. You have to tolerate a lot in life. The Art of War quotes on patience guide you about the way of patience, that how it can be acquired.

The secret of getting successful work out of your trained men lies in one nutshell—in the clearness of the instructions they receive. –Sun Tzu

The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. –Sun Tzu
Those skilled at making the enemy move do so by creating a situation to which he must conform; they entice him with something he is certain to take, and with lures of ostensible profit they await him in strength. –Sun Tzu
He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. –Sun Tzu
If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by. –Sun Tzu
He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not will be victorious. –Sun Tzu
He lies in wait with the main body of his troops. –Sun Tzu
Passivity means waiting for an opportunity –Sun Tzu
In good order they await a disorderly enemy; in serenity, a clamorous one. This is control of the mental factor. –Sun Tzu
Close to the field of battle, they await an enemy coming from afar; at rest, an exhausted enemy; with well-fed troops, hungry ones. This is control of the physical factor. –Sun Tzu
Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight. –Sun Tzu

Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate. –Sun Tzu

The Art of War Quotes and Excerpts

The art of war is the amazing strategic mindset. Your life is all dependent on the way you follow. You fight the battle of life day and night. Excerpts from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War writings are masterpieces. These pieces of writing do not require any introduction.

It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on. –Sun Tzu
To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. –Sun Tzu
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 defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. –Sun Tzu
What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. –Sun Tzu
Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated. –Sun Tzu
Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. –Sun Tzu
Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy’s purpose. –Sun Tzu
Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of the trigger. –Sun Tzu

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. –Sun Tzu
In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed. –Sun Tzu
If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in. –Sun Tzu

More the Art of War Quotes and sayings

Knowledge is the like an ocean. It never ends. Learn as much as you want. Do not worry about its end. The Art of War sayings provide a great opportunity to learn multiple strategies read onto to get enriched!

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.
The skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.

In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory.
In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.
In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack—the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height.
That general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack. 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.
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.
The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.
How to make the best of both strong and weak—that is a question involving the proper use of ground.
By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.
When invading hostile territory, the general principle is, that penetrating deeply brings cohesion; penetrating but a short way means dispersion.
For it is precisely when a force has fallen into harm’s way that is capable of striking a blow for victory.
Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy’s purpose.
There are five ways of attacking with fire. The first is to burn soldiers in their camp; the second is to burn stores; the third is to burn baggage trains; the fourth is to burn arsenals and magazines; the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy.

Final Thoughts on the Art of War Quotes

You read, observed, and understood a lot going through The Art of War quotes. Self-discipline, strategy, excellence, and leadership are all art of war related terms.

Learn about how to identify your battle. Know what to ignore. Understand where to invest your strength. Excerpts from The Art of War are pieces of great worth.

You invested a lot of your precious time in reading sayings from The Art of War. It will benefit you a lot. Your mindset about war will change and you will learn how to fight better next time.

The Art of War quotes are a treasure. You must have found out after reading them. You will feel motivated every time examining them and you will fight your inner wars as well as outside wars as well.

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