Inspirational Quotes

Words to motivate, inspire, and guide you.

Sun Tzu Quotes

Hear the Author's Words

Leadership Strategy He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

Spirit Teamwork Unity Victory He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.

Excellence Peace Strategy Wisdom To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

Duty Sacrifice If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.

Confidence Knowledge Self-Knowledge Strategy If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.

Strategy Wisdom He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

Outcome Preparation Strategy Victory War Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

Self-Empowerment The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

Attack Defence Invincibility Strategy Victory Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack.

Excellence Leadership Vision To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.

Excellence Training Victory Victory usually goes to the army who has better trained officers and men.

Aggression Importance Strategy Tactics War Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

Diplomacy Strategy Truce When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.

Consequence Importance State Strategy War 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. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.

Caution Leadership Preparation Strategy Wisdom The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.

Confrontation Revelation Strategy Balk the enemy's power; force him to reveal himself.

Benevolence Humility Leadership Selflessness A good commander is benevolent and unconcerned with fame.

Excellence Peace Strategy Wisdom Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

Awareness Ignorance Knowledge Self Reflection Strategy If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.

Foreknowledge Success Wisdom Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.

Enemy Awareness Perseverance Self Reflection Victory Through Knowledge Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.

Peace Strategy Wisdom The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

Opportunity Patience Preparation Strategy The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.

Anxiety Courage Fear Mindset Mortality Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.

Foresight Planning Preparation Strategy Success 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.

Coordination Deception Execution Initiative Strategy Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.

Preparation Prudence Strategy Triumph Unpreparedness He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.

Knowledge Self-awareness Strategy Success Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.

Adversity Perseverance Resilience Survival Victory Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory.

Espionage Leadership Strategy Victory Wisdom It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.