Sun Tzu Quotes
Sun Tzu is the traditional author of The Art of War, the oldest and most famous book on strategy. Every quote below is from The Art of War (Lionel Giles translation), with its chapter.
5 real Sun Tzu quotes, with sources
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”Sun Tzu — The Art of War, ch. 3
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”Sun Tzu — The Art of War, ch. 3
“All warfare is based on deception.”Sun Tzu — The Art of War, ch. 1
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”Sun Tzu — The Art of War, ch. 4
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”Sun Tzu — The Art of War, ch. 7
Famous quotes Sun Tzu never said
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”This line does not appear in The Art of War. It is a modern saying attached to Sun Tzu's name.
Who was Sun Tzu?
Little is known for certain about Sun Tzu's life, but The Art of War has been studied by generals for over two thousand years and is now read by executives, athletes and negotiators. Its central idea: the best victory is the one won without a fight. Read more on Wikipedia.
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What is Sun Tzu's most famous quote?
One of the best known is “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” (The Art of War, ch. 3)
Did Sun Tzu really say “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”?
No. This line does not appear in The Art of War. It is a modern saying attached to Sun Tzu's name.
Where do these Sun Tzu quotes come from?
Sun Tzu is the traditional author of The Art of War, the oldest and most famous book on strategy. Every quote below is from The Art of War (Lionel Giles translation), with its chapter.
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