War & Conflict Sayings

Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.

If a battle is to be fought, it must be planned with precision and executed with speed.

When the enemy is at ease, be able to weary him; when well fed, to starve him; when at rest, to make him move.

When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened.

The wise warrior avoids the battle.

If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.

Never venture to move, unless to gain a decided advantage; never do battle, unless the stake is important.

Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.

The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

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

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free.

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

When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.

If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb i…

Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throu…

The only safety for the conquered is to expect no safety.