Barnorama All Fun In The Barn
It takes a certain kind of badass to be relevant for thousands of years. Sun Tzu is that badass. Even after more than 2,500 years after his death, he’s still regarded as one of the most brilliant military strategists ever.
The philosophy found in his legendary “how-to-attain-ultimate-victory” book The Art of War has heavily influenced much of the developed world and beyond. In fact, Sun Tzu’s wisdom still works today, even including some less violent life hacks, like how to lead and succeed. Don’t believe us? Check out a few of his pro tip quotes that still prove true to modern day.
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
“If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.”
“When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.”
“A leader leads by example, not by force.”
“Know yourself and you will win all battles.”
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
“When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.”
“Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.”
“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”
“Move swift as the Wind and closely formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”
“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 throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.”
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”
“To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.”
“Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.”
“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment—that which they cannot anticipate.”
“Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate.”
“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 in every battle.”
“Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”
“There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.”
“You have to believe in yourself.”
“Appear weak when you are strong and strong when you are weak.”
“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen. There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.”
“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”