Inspirational Quotes on Strategy

“Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain secret, which leads to victory;  show your dispositions, and your condition will become patent, which leads to defeat.”

“If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst. [One may know the condition of a whole army from the behavior of a single man.]”

“You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.”

“When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.”

“You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”

“Whether in an advantageous position or a disadvantageous one, the opposite state should be always present to your mind.”

“The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points;”

“We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors.”

“Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.”

“There are not more than five primary colors  (blue, yellow,  red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.”

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

“When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is INSUBORDINATION.”

“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.”

“When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is COLLAPSE.”

“The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.”

“Danger has a bracing effect.”

“Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.”

“Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.”

“If we wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, we must not fix our minds on that alone, but allow for the possibility of the enemy also doing some harm to us, and let this enter as a factor into our calculations.”

“Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands.”