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70+ Words of Wisdom Sun Tzu That Will Teach You to Fight Wisely with Life

70+ Words of Wisdom Sun Tzu That Will Teach You to Fight Wisely with Life
credit:https://worldhistory.org/

The name Sun Tzu has been very popular throughout the world. He is a very respected figure of an ancient Chinese general. He is known as a military strategist and philosopher. 

This man who lived in the Spring and Autumn period is also popular as the author of the most influential military strategy work in the world, entitled "The Art of War,".

Sun Tzu's work is recognized as having had a tremendous impact on Western and Eastern philosophy. The military strategy he taught has been praised and employed throughout East Asia since it was promoted. This strategy is also practically applied in Western societies and has become increasingly popular in the twentieth century.

Not only reliable in war matters, but the wise words of the legendary historical figure contained in his work also influence culture, politics, business, and sports. He is even called one of the greatest war leaders and strategists ever.

Many of Sun Tzu's big ideas are poured in the words of wisdom or the Sun Tzu Quotes he compiles. What are Sun Tzu's wise words like? 

The following is a collection of Sun Tzu's words of wisdom that we deserve a look at. Sun Tzu Quotes are ready to teach us how to fight for life, wisely.

1. Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.

Look weak when you are strong, and be strong when you are weak.

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

A leader leads by example, not by force.

3.  You have to believe in yourself.

You have to believe in yourself.

4.  Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?

Can you imagine what I would do if I could do everything I could?

5. If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.

If you recognize the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles.

6. Keep your friends close, your enemies even closer.

Keep your friends near you, and your enemies even closer.

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

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

8. Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.

Know yourself, know your enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.

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

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

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

The winning warrior wins first and then goes to war, while the losing soldier goes to war first and then tries to win.

11. Let your plans be dark and as impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

Let your plan be dark and impenetrable like night, and when you move, fall like thunder.

12. If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.

If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are close.

13. During the chaos, there is also opportunity.

Amid the chaos, there is also opportunity.

14. Do not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy's terms.

Do not engage enemies who are stronger than you. And if it is unavoidable and you must be involved, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy's terms.

15. If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.

If the mind wants, the flesh can go on and on without much.

16. Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.

Even the best sword dipped in saltwater will rust eventually.

17. Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise, for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.

Happiness is the fate of a person who tries to win battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating corporate morale, as the result is a waste of time and general stagnation.

18. A wise general makes a point of foraging the enemy.

A wise general makes a point of foraging the enemy.

19. The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.

Good warriors first place themselves beyond the possibility of defeat and then wait for the opportunity to defeat the enemy.

20. All war is deception.

All wars are a hoax.

21. There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.

There are no examples of countries that have benefited from a prolonged war.

22. To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.

To know your Enemy you must become your Enemy.

23. Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?

Can you imagine what I would do if I could do everything I could?

24. Opportunities multiply as they are seized.

The odds are doubled when they are snatched away.

25. The quality of a decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.

Quality decisions such as the eagle's well-timed movements allow it to strike and destroy its victims.

26. It is more important to out-think your enemy than to outfight him.

It is more important to defeat the mind of your enemy than to defeat him physically.

27. Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.

Move quickly like the wind and form like wood. Strike like Fire and abide like the Mountain.

28. Do not press an enemy at bay.

Don't press enemies at bay.

29. To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

To fight and conquer all our battles is not the highest advantage; supreme excellence consists in crushing enemy resistance without fighting.

30. Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

It becomes very subtle, even shapeless. Be so mysterious that you don't even have a voice. That way you can be the direction of your opponent's fate.

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

A skilled male employer will employ wise men, brave men, greedy men, and foolish men.

32. Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.

Even the best sword dipped in saltwater will rust eventually.

33. For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards.

For them to experience the benefits of defeating their enemies, they must also receive rewards.

34. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.

The art of war teaches us not to rely on the possibility of the enemy not coming, but on our readiness to accept it; not because of the possibility that he might not attack, but rather the fact that we have made our position undeniable.

35. Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.

Think of your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you to the deepest valley; see them as your beloved sons, and they will stand by you even to death.

36. Convince your enemy that he will gain very little by attacking you; this will diminish his enthusiasm.

Assure your enemy that he will get very little by attacking you; this will dampen his enthusiasm.

37. The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.

The ultimate efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.

38. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.

He will win over who, who prepares, waits to face an unprepared enemy.

39. The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.

The general who won the battle made many calculations in his temple before the battle took place. The defeated general had only made a few calculations beforehand.

40. The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

The opportunity to secure ourselves from defeat rests in our own hands, but the opportunity to defeat the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

41. Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.

Know yourself, know your enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.

42. All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

Everyone can see the tactics in which I conquer, but what can't be seen is the strategy from which victory evolves.

43. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

To win a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not a skill. Putting down the enemy without fighting is the pinnacle of skill.

44. When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.

When messengers were sent with praise on their mouths, it was a sign that the enemy wanted a truce.

45. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

He who will win is who knows how to handle superior and inferior forces.

46. It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy.

It's easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy.

47. There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination, they produce more hues than can ever be seen. There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.

There are no more than five musical notes, but the combination of these five gives rise to more melodies than can be heard. There are no more than five primary colors, but in combination, they produce more hues than can be seen. There are no more than five cardinal flavors, but the combination of the two produces more flavors than can be tasted.

48. Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.

Wake up for your opponents, a golden bridge to retreat.

49. When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.

When the times are strong, avoid them. If you're in high spirits, press them. Show humility to fill it with pride. If easy, throw them away. When put together, separate. Attack their weakness. Appeared to surprise them.

50. Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of the trigger.

Energy corresponds to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to release the trigger.

51. Sweat more during peace: bleed less during the war.

Sweating more during peace: bleeding less during the war.

52. Who wishes to fight must first count the cost.

Who wants to fight must first calculate the cost

53. If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.

If you don't know your enemy and yourself, you will be in danger.

54. The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.

Enlightened rulers pay attention, and good generals are full of caution.

55. If we know that our men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.

If we know that our people are in a state to attack, but do not realize that the enemy is not open to attack, we are only halfway to victory.

56. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins but excels in winning with ease.

The so-called smart warrior was a person who not only won but excelled at winning easily.

57. When one treats people with benevolence, justice, and righteousness, and re poses confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders.

When one treats people with benevolence, justice, and truth, and puts trust in them, the soldiers will be united in mind and everyone will happily serve their leaders.

58. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

Anger in time turns to joy; pique can be replaced by content. But an empire that was once destroyed will never exist again; the dead cannot be brought back to life.

59. The wise warrior avoids the battle.

The wise warrior avoids the battle.

60. All warfare is based on deception. Hence, 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.

All wars are based on deception. Therefore, when we can attack, we must appear incapable; when using our power we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe that we are far away; when far away, we have to make him believe that we are near.

61. There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be ironed, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.

There are roads not to be followed, armies not to be attacked, cities not to be besieged, positions not to be contested, orders of rulers that must not be obeyed.

62. If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is "death".

If fast, I survived. If I don't hurry up, I get lost. This is "death".

63. Great results, can be achieved with small forces.

Great results, achievable with little force.

64. Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.

Ponder and consider before you move.

65. Wheels of justice grind slow but grind fine.

The wheel of justice is slow but well-ground.

66. Be where your enemy is not.

Stay where your enemies are not.

67. Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory about the foe whom he is facing.

Water forms its path according to the nature of the soil in which it flows; The soldier determines his victory about the enemy he faces.

68. Bravery without forethought, causes a man to fight blindly and desperately like a mad bull. Such an opponent, must not be encountered with brute force but may be lured into an ambush and slain.

Courage without any prior thought, causing a man to fight blindly and desperately like a mad bull. Such an opponent, not to be met with brute force, but can be lured into an ambush and killed.

69. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

But an empire that was once destroyed will never exist again; the dead cannot be brought back to life.

70. Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.

Rewards for good service should not be delayed by a single day.

71. Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength.

The violation comes from rules, fear comes from courage, weakness comes from strength.

72. If there is a disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak.

If there is a disturbance in a camp, it means the leader's authority is weak.

73. Foreknowledge cannot be gotten from ghosts and spirits, cannot be had by analogy, cannot be found out by calculation. It must be obtained from people, people who know the conditions of the enemy.

Prior knowledge cannot be obtained from ghosts and spirits, cannot be possessed by analogy, cannot be found by calculation. It must be obtained from people, people who know the condition of the enemy.

References:

1. Brainy Quote. Tt. Sun Tzu Quotes. Accessed from https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/sun_tzu

2. Jackson, Eric. 2014. Sun Tzu's 31 Best Pieces Of Leadership Advice, accessed from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2014/05/23/sun-tzus-33-best-pieces-of-leadership-advice/# 5385cc535e5e

3. Juma, Norbert. Tt. 50 Sun Tzu Quotes On The Art Of War, Love and Life, accessed at https://everydaypower.com/sun-tzu-quotes/

4. The Famous People. Tt. 100 Inspirational Quotes By Sun Tzu That Will Help You Take On The World, accessed from https://quotes.thefamouspeople.com/sun-tzu-261.php

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