Sun Tzu was a general, strategist and philosopher during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods of China (before 500 AD). His wisdom was condensed in “The Art of War” and became a treasure of ancient military science in China and even the world. This book, which spans more than 2,500 years, has deeply influenced all fields of the world with its unique military wisdom, strategic thinking, and adaptability. From ancient times to the present, countless leaders and wise men have drawn inspiration from this book and applied its wisdom to various fields of military, business, law and daily life.
In other articles sharing quotes from Sun Tzu’s Art of War, I found some fake quotes that were not actually from Sun Tzu’s Art of War but were widely circulated. For example, the following sentences:
If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by
You have to believe in yourself.
If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.
Today we will focus on the real quotes from “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu, and attach its Chinese language and source. These quotes will reveal Sun Tzu’s wisdom to you, with profound implications not just on the battlefield, but in relationships, strategy development, and everyday life.
Sun Tzu Quotes 01
“兵者，国之大事，死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也。”
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State.It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.”
— The Art of War Chapter 1 – Laying Plans
Sun Tzu Quotes 02
“兵者，诡道也。”
“All warfare is based on deception.“
— The Art of War Chapter 1 – Laying Plans
Sun Tzu Quotes 03
“能而示之不能。”
“when able to attack, we must seem unable.”
or
“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
— The Art of War Chapter 1 – Laying Plans
Sun Tzu Quotes 04
“攻其无备，出其不意。”
“Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.“
— The Art of War Chapter 1 – Laying Plans
Sun Tzu Quotes 05
“不尽知用兵之害者，则不能尽知用兵之利也。”
“It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.“
— The Art of War Chapter 2 – Waging War
Sun Tzu Quotes 06
“兵贵胜，不贵久。”
“In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.“
— The Art of War Chapter 2 – Waging War
Sun Tzu Quotes 07
“上兵伐谋，其次伐交，其次伐兵，其下攻城。”
“The highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy’s plans; the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy’s forces; the next in order is to attack the enemy’s army in the field; and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.“
— The Art of War Chapter 3 – Attack by Stratagem
Sun Tzu Quotes 08
“百战百胜，非善之善者也；不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。”
“Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.“
— The Art of War Chapter 3 – Attack by Stratagem
Sun Tzu Quotes 09
“知彼知己，百战不殆。”
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.“
— The Art of War Chapter 3 – Attack by Stratagem
Extended reading：The meaning of Sun Tzu’s quote Know the enemy and know yourself
Sun Tzu Quotes 10
“善战者，猝死不可胜，不能使敌之必可胜。”
“The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.“
— The Art of War Chapter 4 – Tactical Dispositions
Sun Tzu Quotes 11
“善战者，立于不败之地，而不失敌之败也。”
“The skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.”
— The Art of War Chapter 4 – Tactical Dispositions
Sun Tzu Quotes 12
“胜兵先胜而后求战，败兵先战而后求胜。”
“It is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.”
— The Art of War Chapter 4 – Tactical Dispositions
Sun Tzu Quotes 13
“凡战者，以正合，以奇胜。”
“In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.”
— The Art of War Chapter 5 – Eergy
Sun Tzu Quotes 14
“乱生于治，怯生于勇，弱生于强。”
“Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.”
— The Art of War Chapter 5 – Eergy
Sun Tzu Quotes 15
“善战者，求之于势，不责于人。”
“The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals.”
— The Art of War Chapter 5 – Eergy
Sun Tzu Quotes 16
“善战者，致人而不致于人。”
“The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed on him.”
— The Art of War Chapter 6 – Weak Points and Strong
Sun Tzu Quotes 17
“善攻者，敌不知其所守；善守者，敌不知其所攻。”
“That general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.”
— The Art of War Chapter 6 – Weak Points and Strong
Sun Tzu Quotes 18
“兵无常势，水无常形，能因敌变化而取胜者，谓之神”
“Just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.“
— The Art of War Chapter 6 – Weak Points and Strong
Sun Tzu Quotes 19
“三军可夺气，将军可夺心。”
“A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind. “
— The Art of War Chapter 7 – Maneuvering
Sun Tzu Quotes 20
“智者之虑，必杂于利害。”
“In the wise leader’s plans, considerations of advantage and of disadvantage will be blended together.“
— The Art of War Chapter 8 – Variation in Tactics
Sun Tzu Quotes 21
“用兵之法，无恃其不来，恃吾有以待之。”
“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him.“
— The Art of War Chapter 9 – The Army on The March
Sun Tzu Quotes 22
“夫惟无虑而易敌者，必擒于人。”
“He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.“
— The Art of War Chapter 9 – The Army on The March
Sun Tzu Quotes 23
“合之以文，齐之以武，是谓必取。”
” Soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline.This is a certain road to victory.“
— The Art of War Chapter 9 – The Army on The March
Sun Tzu Quotes 24
“令素行者，与众相得也。”
“If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed the gain will be mutual.“
— The Art of War Chapter 9 – The Army on The March
Sun Tzu Quotes 25
“知彼知己，胜乃不殆；知天知地，胜乃可全。”
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.“
— The Art of War Chapter 10 – Terrain
Sun Tzu Quotes 26
“兵之情主速，乘人之不及，由不虞之道，攻其所不戒也。“
“Rapidity is the essence of war:take advantage of the enemy’s unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.“
— The Art of War Chapter 11 – The Nine Situations
Sun Tzu Quotes 27
“齐勇若一，政之道也。”
“The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.”
— The Art of War Chapter 11 – The Nine Situations
Sun Tzu Quotes 28
“将军之事：静以幽，正以治。”
“It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order.”
— The Art of War Chapter 11 – The Nine Situations
Sun Tzu Quotes 29
“始如处女，敌人开户，后如脱兔，敌不及拒。”
“At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.“
— The Art of War Chapter 11 – The Nine Situations
Sun Tzu Quotes 30
“明君慎之，良将警之，此安国全军之道也。”
“The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. This is the way to keep a country at peace and an army intact.“
— The Art of War Chapter 12 – The Attack by Fire
Sun Tzu Quotes 31
“明君贤将，所以动而胜人，成功源于众者，先知也。”
“What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is FOREKNOWLEDGE.“
— The Art of War Chapter 13 – The Use of Spies
Sun Tzu Quotes 32
“惟明君贤将，能以上智为间者，必成大功。”
“It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for purposes of spying and thereby they achieve great results.“
— The Art of War Chapter 13 – The Use of Spies
These are the most famous Sun Tzu Art of War quotes and they are all from the real Sun Tzu Art of War. If you are thus interested in the book The Art of War by Sun Tzu, you can read the complete book The Art of War by Sun Tzu online at this website. It is a very short book that can be read in less than half a day. By reading the whole book, you can have a deeper understanding of the meaning of these quotes.
What are your favorite quotes from Sun Tzu? Feel free to share it in the comments section!
Extended reading
Who is Sun Tzu? A brief introduction to Sun Tzu’s life
The Art of War Summary by Chapter
The Art of War PDF Free Download
10 Fake Quotes that Sun Tzu never said
100 Funny Sun Tzu Quotes Memes
Quotes
