Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Sun TzuRead
It is the business of a general to be serene and inscrutable, impartial and self-controlled.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A leader must remain calm and composed, maintaining objectivity and control over their emotions.
In this quote, Sun Tzu emphasizes the essential qualities of a successful leader or general. The attributes of serenity and inscrutability allow a leader to navigate complex situations without being influenced by emotional turmoil. By remaining impartial and self-controlled, a leader can make strategic decisions that consider the greater good and maintain the trust of their followers.
Themes
LeadershipSerenitySelf-ControlStrategyObjectivity
In practice
Example use cases
In a leadership seminar, to highlight the qualities of effective leaders.
More from Sun Tzu
All quotes βGreat results, can be achieved with small forces.
Sun TzuRead
To capture an enemies army is better than to destroy it.
Sun TzuRead
The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.
Sun TzuRead
You can ensure the success of your attacks if you only attack places that are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. Therefore, that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.
Sun TzuRead
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.
Sun TzuRead
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