Sun Tzu Quotes

Blunders are an inescapable feature of war, because choice in military affairs lies generally between the bad and the worse.

Thus 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.

Anyone that goes to battle goes to battle knowing the mindset and tactics of their enemies.

Fighting wars is not so much about killing people as it is about finding things out. The more you know, the more likely you are to win a battle.

The military mind always imagines that the next war will be on the same lines as the last.

If a military mission has no guide who knows the inside information of the opponents, it will likely have to retreat half of the way.

One of the surest ways of forming good combinations in war would be to order movements only after obtaining perfect information of the enemy's proceedings. In fact, how can any man say what he should do himself; if he is ignorant what his adversary is about?

To make war all you need is intelligence. But to win you need talent and material.

Our military commanders have said over and over again that a timetable for withdrawal sends the wrong message to our troops, but more importantly to our enemy.

It can’t be any other than madness to commence hostilities before we have established resources on a sure plan for certain and effectual military supplies. Men in that case will not be wanting.

The enemy would not have been in danger if Mr. Stanton had been in the field.

You want to win the wars you fight. That’s why you have to pick your wars carefully.

There is no shorter road to defeat than by entering a war with inadequate preparation.

A people [America] that does not prepare to fight should then be morally prepared to surrender. To fail to prepare soldiers and citizens for limited, bloody ground action, and then to engage in it, is folly verging on the criminal.

I have to decide Japanese strategy - shall we invade Japan proper or shall we bomb and blockade? That is my hardest decision to date. But I'll make it when I have all the facts.

It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, defend against them; if weaker, be able to avoid them.

When you have resolved to fight a battle, collect your whole force. Dispense with nothing. A single battalion sometimes decides the day.

For every man who has learned to fight in arms will desire to learn the proper arrangement of an army, which is the sequel of the lesson.

You cannot be desperate when the army is making advances. That should have happened - if we take into consideration that this presumption is correct and this is reality - you use it when you're in a desperate situation.

A battle can be won before it's ever fought by choosing the right ground.

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 natural principle of war is to do the most harm to our enemy with the least harm to ourselves; and this of course is to be effected by stratagem.

It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.

If the tanks succeed, then victory follows.

The United States has to have the capability to deal with more than one enemy at one time and be able to confront them and win.