Sun Tzu

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

"I am always amazed by the number of people who are willing to fight to the death to save face."

"To ensure an army's loyalty, the general must share its hardships."

"The art of war is simple enough. Find out what the other person does not want you to do, and then do it."

"He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent, and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain."

"Fighting with knowledge of both yourself and your enemy is not dangerous. Fighting with knowledge of yourself but not your enemy is very dangerous."

"The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, not individual technique."

"Those skilled in warfare cultivate the Tao and preserve the rules; thus they are able to formulate winning strategies."

"In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them."

"He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious."

"The combination of all forces is the art of winning."

"Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants and a contented mind."

"Do not fight the problem, decide it."

"The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent."

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

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

"In war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak."

"The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities."

"Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness."

"The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon."

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

"Thus, when in difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high roads intersect, join hands with your allies. Do not linger in salient angles. In enclosed country, resort to stratagem. In death-trap country, fight."

"One mark of a great soldier is that he fights on his own terms or not at all."

"If you concentrate on emptiness, you will be unable to concentrate on the enemy."

"When able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near."

"The skillful employer of men will employ the wise, the brave, the covetous, and the stupid."

"Disorder is born of order, and cowardice is born of courage."

"All victorious armies win first and then go to war, all defeated armies go to war first and then seek to win."

"Move only when you have the advantage."

"Victory is determined by the side that has the most information."