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The writer/narrator of The Art of War, Master Sun shares his wisdom and experience with the reader over the course of thirteen chapters. Not only does he provide theoretic guidance on matters of strategy, he also offers specific advice, for example suggesting the best way to move troops through various types of terrain. Given the range and depth of his insights, Master Sun appears to be a vastly experienced warrior, general, strategist, and schemer. He values careful preparation and considered action, while warning against fits of rage or the temptations of arrogance. While he does not see war as a lifestyle or a desirable endeavor, he does not shy away from the brutal reality of what is required to emerge victorious. Each chapter opens with the line “Master Sun said:” which is commonly understood to suggest his sayings were written down and compiled by his disciples.
Master Sun (Sun-Tzu) Quotes in The Art of War
The The Art of War quotes below are all either spoken by Master Sun (Sun-Tzu) or refer to Master Sun (Sun-Tzu). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 1 Quotes
War is
A grave affair of state;
It is a place
Of life and death,
A road
To survival and extinction,
A matter
To be pondered carefully.
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In the opening lines of The Art of War, the narrator, Master Sun, impresses upon the reader the weight of the topic at hand. War is not a way of life, nor a form of entertainment for lords. Instead, war decides the fates of hundreds of thousands of people, and it dramatically changes the course of history. As an “affair of state,” conflict is something for the rulers to lead, something that happens on a national scale. As such, readers see that Sun is not talking about mere feuds between noble families or about taming rebels. He is discussing total Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet do
The Way of War is
A Way of Deception.
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After offering his services as an advisor to the reader, Sun captures the central principle of war in one couplet. Ultimately, war is a battle of wills between the generals of opposing armies. The real battle is not fought on the field. It is fought in the mind games played out with layer upon layer of scheming, as each general seeks to confuse and outwit his foe. Generals can achieve a perfect victory, according to the traditional concept of the Way. Sun’s use of this term is similar to the Taoist (or Daoist) notion that, because of the inherent order Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea su
Chapter 2 Quotes
In War,
Victory should be
Swift.
If victory is slow,
Men tire,
Morale sags.
Sieges
Exhaust strength;
Protracted campaigns
Strain the public treasury.
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Generals and men do not fight war for war’s sake—they seek victory and the safe return home to their families. Thus, the quicker a war can be won, the better it is for the army itself. It is also more beneficial for the home nation to win quickly, as it lessens the burden on the government’s finances. The longer the fighting continues, the harder it is to win, as the men’s morale fades over time. Sun picks out sieges in particular as an exhausting enterprise, underscoring that it is one best not attempted at all. As such, Sun keeps the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut v
I have heard that in war
Haste can be
Folly
But have never seen
Delay that was
Wise.
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Here, Sun shows while there is always a balance in deciding when to strike, hesitation is always the worst option. He shows at various points how a general rushing his men into battle when unprepared can bring disaster upon the army. However, delay has wider-reaching implications than haste. Delay in war causes greater suffering among the men, as their morale recedes with every subsequent day away from home, making each fight harder than the last. Additionally, the common people back home also suffer, as they must continue to work without their strongest male family member, and support other families as Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam
Chapter 3 Quotes
Ultimate excellence lies
Not in winning
Every battle
But in defeating the enemy
Without ever fighting.
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Perhaps one of the most well-known quotes from The Art of War, here Sun describes a general that demonstrates the epitome of the Way of war. Generals do not win or lose based on raw physical might. As warfare is a battle of wills, the general may never face his enemy on the physical battlefield. Instead, by perfecting the art of deception and misguidance, the general outmaneuvers his enemy strategically. One example could be undermining the enemy’s alliance with a key neighboring state—without the ally’s army to back him up, the enemy might back down altogether. This is the ultimate Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea su
So it is said:
"Know the enemy,
Know yourself,
And victory
Is never in doubt,
Not in a hundred battles."
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This line is repeated in Chapter 10, reflecting the importance this assertion holds within the logic of the treatise as a whole. Knowledge and wisdom supersede all other factors when it comes to war, including physical might. The skilled general knows his army’s ability and temperament, his equipment, the terrain, and the enemy in minute detail. Only by knowing everything can the general be sure of victory. These lines were famously quoted by Communist Party of China leader Mao Zedong.
Chapter 4 Quotes
A victorious army
Is like
Pent-up water
Crashing
A thousand fathoms
Into a gorge.
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Sun uses this image to illustrate his point that victory is all about understanding, which he breaks down into measuring, estimating, calculating, and comparing. Essentially, he argues that the general who perceives the inner nature of things can predict what will come next. This is because the world’s apparent chaos is governed by rigid laws, as represented by Yin and Yang. For example, water sitting in a wide pool will not suddenly move with any great force. But, when the landscape creates a path for it, and with a helping hand from gravity (especially if concentrated by a narrow gorge), Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium r
Chapter 5 Quotes
In the dynamics of War,
There are but these two-
Indirect
And direct-
And yet their permutations
Are inexhaustible.
They give rise to each other
In a never-ending,
Inexhaustible circle.
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Sun has previously described that despite there only being five basic musical notes, flavors, and colors, their varieties and permutations are countless. So it is with warfare, but the two factors are direct and indirect action. Direct action would be lining up an army in opposition to the enemy forces, or laying siege to a city. Meanwhile, the general should also be planning indirect actions. This could include staging a fake retreat to lure the enemy forces to advance beyond the city walls, or to give away a strong position on the battlefield. The general might have sent spies to Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occae
A rushing torrent
Carries boulders
On its flood;
Such is the energy
Of its momentum.
A swooping falcon
Breaks the back
Of its prey;
Such is the precision
Of its timing.
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Expanding on his point about the general unleashing the inherent characteristics of his men, Sun gives further examples of how understanding the world can inform the general’s strategy. The rushing torrent represents a furious charge in battle. If the general can understand the forces at play to bring about this momentum, much as still water needs only space and gravity to move in such a way, he can spur his men to unleash destructive might. It is the same for the falcon image. While the bird is strong, it can only deploy that strength with fatal effect because of its Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia ap
His energy is like
A drawn crossbow,
His timing like
The release of a trigger.
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Providing further examples on his point that principles from nature that can be applied in warfare, Sun moves away from natural imagery and instead employs what modern readers know as physics. The string of a crossbow could not kill a man by itself. It is by the genius design of the device that the string is placed under immense tension, a force that can be transplanted into an arrow, and thereafter into the target. The general must employ the same principle in war—releasing great power at the opportune time and at the right angle can have destructive effect, by using Dolorem et quae. Exercitatio
Skillfully deployed soldiers
Are like round boulders
Rolling down
A mighty mountainside.
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In the concluding lines of his chapter on “potential energy,” Sun uses this image to summarize his argument. By themselves, on flat terrain, boulders lie still. Yet, with no change to their nature, but simply placed in a different location, those same boulders will charge downhill with immense power. It is not the boulders themselves that produce such power, but the forces at play in the circumstances. In the same way, the general should place his men in an advantageous position that strengthens them with its inherent potential energy. The simplest and most direct example would be to take the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt.
Chapter 6 Quotes
The Skillful Warrior attacks
So that the enemy
Cannot defend;
He defends
So that the enemy
Cannot attack.
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The general devises a pinpoint strategy that the enemy cannot withstand. Sun does not simply advise hitting the enemy so hard that it has to hurt. Instead, he argues that the general must deftly outwit his opponent so that the latter cannot avoid the attack. The general moves in secret, so the enemy does not know where he will attack, and thus cannot defend himself appropriately. Also, in saying the general defends so that the enemy cannot attack him, Sun does not simply refer to high walls. Instead, the general can employ counterattacks to unsettle the enemy. For example, the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio
His form is visible,
But I am
Formless;
I am concentrated,
He is divided.
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Sun talks from his experience as a seasoned general about misguiding the enemy, while being aware of all his plans. War is a battle of wills, and the greatest resource is knowledge. The general must keep his plans and strategies secret, while uncovering the enemy’s movements and plots. Only in this way can the general outmaneuver the enemy. If the general successfully keeps his own plans secret, the enemy must defend many points. In contrast, the general will only attack a few. So, the general’s forces will encounter a weakened and divided enemy. The enemy cannot perceive or guess at Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dol
Victorious campaigns
Are unrepeatable.
They take form in response
To the infinite varieties
Of circumstance.
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In this passage, the narrator highlights how every moment only happens once. There are so many variables in the complex web of reality that every exact moment is unrepeatable. War is no exception. As such, there is no one formula to ensure victory. In every second of every battle, and also off the battlefield, there are “infinite varieties / Of circumstance” that the general must perceive and interpret, in order to respond to the continuously unfolding and changing present moment. As such, Sun’s military treatise offers universally applicable wisdom and principles, but not a play-by-play strategy for victory.
Military dispositions
Take form like water.
Water shuns the high
And hastens to the low.
War shuns the strong
And attacks the weak.
Water shapes its current
From the lie of the land.
The warrior shapes his victory
From the dynamic of the enemy.
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Natural principles affect armies in the same way they affect water. Men tire when advancing uphill—it is much more efficient to move with the force of gravity, as water does. Water will also move through the landscape through its weakest points, carving a route through the softest soil or rock. So too should the general devise his strategy according to the enemy’s weakest points. In doing so, he will get the highest results from his men’s energy, and better harness their natural characteristics. By understanding the natural laws that govern the world, the general can pick out the path of Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eve
War has no
Constant dynamic;
Water has no
Constant form.
Supreme military skill lies
In deriving victory
From the changing circumstances
Of the enemy.
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In referring to this approach as “Supreme,” Sun invokes the traditional idea of the Way, which sees the world as inherently ordered, meaning perfection can be attained. Thus, according to Sun, the objectively best way to form military strategy is to respond to the enemy’s “changing circumstances.” Only by knowing the enemy’s capabilities, plans, position and temperament, can the general plan his own attack or defense. Also, note the emphasis on “changing.” The world is not static. The general must be constantly aware of his enemy, and look for opportunities as they arise. Sun argues this is the natural way Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia a
Chapter 7 Quotes
The difficulty of the fray
Lies in making
The crooked
Straight
And in making
An advantage
Of misfortune.
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In battle, the general must take every opportunity or challenge that arises and bend it to his will in order to create an advantage. When faced with a disadvantage, or even disaster, the skilled and wise general must find a way to make the crooked straight. Sun uses the example of the general setting off to battle after the enemy. The narrator has stated previously that arriving at the battlefield first is crucial, so the general must find a way to make this crooked situation straight. He could simply travel faster, but this could tire the men. A better option Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam volupta
Be rushing as a wind;
Be stately as a forest;
Be ravaging as a fire;
Be still as a mountain.
Be inscrutable as night;
Be swift as thunder or lightning.
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These lines follow Sun’s discussion of movement, and dividing and uniting the troops. When in motion, the army should be fast-paced but orderly. Wind, thunder, and lightning—all weather-related images—provide examples of swift, efficient motion. A “stately” forest refers to dignified order, which indeed can withstand wind as the trees cling together. A “ravaging” fire refers to an army’s destructive advance, leaving nothing remaining in its path, both due to plundering and combat. At other time, the general can call on mountains as inspiration—when he does not wish to move, nothing should be able to move him. The general’s plans should Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor
Chapter 10 Quotes
He regards his troops
As his children,
And they will go with him
Into the deepest ravine.
He regards them
As his loved ones,
And they will stand by him
Unto death.
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The general has total authority in the army, because he assumes total responsibility for his men. While this might seem transactional, Sun suggests that it is as natural as a father/son relationship. If the general leads competently and with appropriate compassion, the men will respect and trust him. Such a bond will see both general and his men face death together, side by side. This relationship bears similarities to the ideas of Confucius, one of Sun’s contemporaries. Also an advisor to rulers, although opposed to war in all forms, Confucius saw such hierarchical relationships as crucial for social harmony.
Know Heaven,
Know Earth,
And your victory
Is complete.
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Throughout his military treatise, Sun emphasizes the central role that knowledge plays in war. It is strategy that wins, not unbridled physical might. The only way the general can outwit the enemy is to have better information than him, yet such information can only be employed successfully by a wise general. This is Sun’s meaning by knowing heaven and earth. Understanding how the world works is in essence an applied form of knowledge—that is, wisdom—which then informs all other learning. The victorious general knows the natural laws of heaven and earth more deeply than his foe, and this is how Dolorem et quae. Exe
Chapter 11 Quotes
To the question
"How should we confront
An enemy,
Numerous and well arrayed,
Poised to attack?"
My reply is
"Seize something
He cherishes,
And he will do your will."
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This advice returns to Sun’s earlier idea of direct and indirect. Taking on the enemy directly in this situation—that is, in battle—would spell disaster for the general, whose forces would crumple beneath the might of a stronger opponent. Instead, Sun argues, the general should take an indirect approach. By taking a hostage, or by seizing another strategic position or asset, the general can distract and disarm the enemy, so that the original confrontation is no longer an issue. Indeed, the general now has the upper hand, despite having a physically weaker army. This is how Sun can say the best Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptat
It is the business of the general
To be still
And inscrutable,
To be upright
And impartial.
He must be able
To keep his own troops
In ignorance,
To deceive their eyes
And their ears.
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In this passage, the narrator emphasizes that it is the general’s responsibility to lead—he is not a tyrant but a fair and honest leader. It is because he is morally upstanding that he earns the right to keep secrets from his men. Furthermore, he only keeps secrets for the men’s own benefit. Revealing his plans too early could lead to that information finding its way to the enemy, thus endangering the entire army. Or, by burdening the men with a full disclosure of the potential dangers ahead, the general could cause his army to lose morale and fail, even though Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor
Success in war
Lies in
Scrutinizing
Enemy intentions.
And going with them.
Focus on the enemy,
And from hundreds of miles
You can kill their general.
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Reaffirming arguments he makes previously, Sun advocates basing military strategy on the enemy’s changing plans and circumstances. The general must be deeply familiar with his enemy’s situation, even his thoughts, and devise appropriate schemes. Specifically, by following the enemy’s lead, the general can extend relatively less effort to capture the enemy in his own web, as compared to creating an entirely new set of circumstances from scratch. By focusing his attention and strategy on the enemy, the general can pinpoint his attack so precisely that his target is achieved from a great distance, such is the power of his command.
At first,
Be like a maiden;
When the enemy opens the door,
Be swift as a hare;
Your enemy will not
Withstand you.
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Outwitting the enemy provides the surest route to victory. So, deception is the name of the game. The general should cause the enemy to underestimate his ability, appearing as harmless and naïve as a maiden. In response, the enemy will drop his guard, creating an opportunity for the general to strike. Once the general gains that advantage, he must strike the enemy’s weakest point as swiftly as a hare, before the enemy realizes his mistake. Using simple, universally understood imagery, Sun demonstrates in this passage how perceiving natural characteristics and behavior can inform the general’s strategy. The general can also Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Inc
Chapter 13 Quotes
It is therefore callous
To begrudge the expense of
A hundred taels
Of silver
For knowledge
Of the enemy's situation.
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Sun describes the immense cost of war, which he calculates at 1,000 taels per day. Then, once human suffering is worked into the equation, the cost is incalculable. Given that the information from spies helps to quicken the conclusion of war, only a cruel and ignorant general would not take this opportunity. After all, the purpose of war is not simply to fight, but to defend the interests of the home nation and ultimately protect peace. Dragging out war directly contradicts that goal, due to the loss of lives, economic productivity, and wealth. As knowledge is crucial to creating a Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. In
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Master Sun (Sun-Tzu) Character Timeline in The Art of War
The timeline below shows where the character Master Sun (Sun-Tzu) appears in The Art of War. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
Master Sun says that war is a very serious business for a nation. It is a matter...
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...who will win and lose from these alone. The reader that learns the lessons that Master Sun has to offer will win, while those who do not take the lesson to heart...
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...victory, having less makes for uncertainty, while having none will lead to defeat. This is Master Sun ’s view, which shows him who will be the victor.
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Chapter 2
Master Sun says that for an army with 1,000 chariots pulled by four horses, with 1,000 wagons...
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Chapter 3
Master Sun says it’s better to conquer a state and keep it whole than raze it to...
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Chapter 4
Master Sun says the skilled general of old first ensures his own strength, then waits for the...
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Chapter 5
Master Sun says leading many men is the same as leading a few. It is about how...
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Chapter 6
Master Sun says getting to the battlefield first means you fight fresh. The one who arrives later...
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Chapter 7
Master Sun says the ruler gives orders to the general, who assembles the men and an army....
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Chapter 8
Master Sun says the ruler gives orders to the general, who assembles the men and an army....
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Chapter 9
Master Sun says, when choosing positions and taking on the enemy, stay close to valleys when crossing...
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Chapter 10
Master Sun says there are different forms of terrain: accessible, entangling, deadlock, enclosed, precipitous, and distant. Accessible...
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Chapter 11
Master Sun says there are nine kinds of ground. Enemies fighting on the home turf is scattering...
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Chapter 12
Master Sun says when attacking by fire, there are five ways to do it, burning men, supplies,...
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Chapter 13
Master Sun says waging large-scale war with 100,000 men costs the people and the nation 1,000 silver...
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