The Art of War Quotes

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

“卑則驕之 • Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.”

“圍師必闕 • To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape.”

“怒而撓之 • If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him.”

“In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power.”

“上兵伐謀 • What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.”

“亂而取之 • Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.”

“守則不足，攻則有餘 • One defends when his strength is inadequate; he attacks when it is abundant.”

“故兵貴勝，不貴久。 • What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.”

“是故上攻伐謀 • Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.”

“知可戰與不可戰者勝。 • He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.”

“兵久而國利者，未之有也。 • There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.”

“以虞待不虞者勝。 • He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.”

“近於師者貴賣，貴賣則百姓財竭 • Where the army is, prices are high; when prices rise the wealth of the people is exhausted.”

“見勝不過衆人之所識，非善之善者也。 • To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.”

“故善戰者，至人而不至於人。 • And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him.”

“此兵之要，三軍之所恃而動也。 • Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.”

“孫子曰：凡治衆如治寡，分數是也； • Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.”

“視卒如愛子，故可與之俱死。 • Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.”

“古之所善戰者，勝於易勝者也。 • What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.”

“令素行以敎其民，則民服。令不素行以敎其民，則民不服。令素行者，與民相得也。 • A leader leads by example not by force.”

“是故勝兵先勝而後求戰，敗兵先戰而後求勝。 • Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”

“故善戰者，求之於勢，不責於人，故能擇人而任勢。 • A skilled commander seeks victory from the situation and does not demand it of his subordinates.”

“不遇敵者，必戰無不勝，但每次交鋒，終必敗北。 • A man who never faces any enemies shall be invincible in battle, but will ultimately succumb to defeat in every confrontation.”