Sun Tzu

"The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself."

"Flexibility is the path of the wise."

"Before the stroke of battle, all wars are won or lost in the strategist's mind."

"To understand the enemy, you must think like the enemy."

"The warrior is defeated by forces unseen, and defeated before the battle begins."

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

"A leader leads by example, not by force."

"The true supreme warrior values peace above all victories."

"Perfect discipline is achieved only by the warrior who understands why discipline is necessary."

"Many are the men who boast of knowing how to act in battle, but they understand neither the enemy nor themselves."

"To win a war, you must know more than your opponent. To know more, you must be willing to know less of what you think you know."

"Victorious warriors are taught early what they must understand late—that survival depends on adapting to change."

"Rewards and punishments are the sinews of government: rewards and punishments."

"The supreme art of persuasion is knowing when to remain silent."

"A general without soldiers is merely a dreamer; soldiers without a general are merely a mob."

"The warrior must know himself, his enemy, the terrain, and the moment."

"In ancient times, skillful warriors first made themselves invincible, and then awaited the enemy's moment of vulnerability."

"He who understands when he can fight and when he cannot will achieve victory."

"The supreme principle of war is to arrive at the objective before your enemy even realizes you have begun moving."

"Like water, a great leader is beneficial and harm-free; yet liquid is the mightiest of all creatures."

"When the enemy's force is united, divide it. When divided, unite your own."

"The warrior who understands the value of a single moment understands the value of a lifetime."

"A commander can be likened to the helmsman of a ship, steering through storms toward harbor."

"The greatest conquest is to win the minds of your enemies without destroying their bodies."

"Success in warfare is determined not by chance, but by careful preparation and study."

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

"A nation drawn into a wasteful war loses more than battles—it loses its soul."

"Like the wind that moves the grass, a great leader moves his people without their resistance."

"All warfare is based on these foundations: careful calculation of advantage and disadvantage."

"The true master does not fight; he simply is, and his enemies defeat themselves."