Why should I know Sun Tzu?

“A leader leads by example not by force.”

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

“Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”

“Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack.”

“Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.”

“Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.”

“Correct your mistake as soon as you have found it.”

“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.”

“Every battle is won before it is fought.”

“He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.”

“If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.”

“If his forces are united, separate them.”

“If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.”

“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”

“It is more important to outhink your enemy, than to outfight him.”

“Keep your fiends close and your enemies even closer.”

“Kill one, terrify a thousand.”

“Knowing the enemy enables you to take the offensive, knowing yourself enables you to stand on the defensive.”

“Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.”

“Never venture, never win!”

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

“One need not destroy one's enemy. One need only destroy his willingness to engage.”

“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”

“Plan for what it is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.”

“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”

“Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.”

“Pretend to be weak, so your enemy may grow arrogant.”

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

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”

“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”

“The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.”

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

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

“The wise warrior avoids the battle.”

“Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.”

“Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.”

“Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.”

“Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.”

“Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy; forceful execution of even a poor plan can often bring victory.”

“What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.”

“You can prevent your opponent from defeating you through defense, but you cannot defeat him without taking the offensive.”