"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. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all!" — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"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." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"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 Art of War

"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, The Art of War

"Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"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 Art of War

"Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed on him." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"Ponder and deliberate before you make a move." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"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." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"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." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"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 useless. 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. If in training soldiers commands are habitually enforced, the army will be well-disciplined; if not, its discipline will be bad." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"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, The Art of War

"He who knows these things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose." — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach."_ — Sun Tzu, The Art of War