Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Sun TzuRead
If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Deceiving your adversary can give you a strategic advantage in conflict.
This quote by Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of strategy and psychological warfare in overcoming opponents. By making an enemy believe you are closer than you are, you can instill fear or uncertainty in them, allowing you to maneuver more effectively and gain the upper hand in a conflict.
Themes
StrategyDeceptionEnemiesWarfarePsychology
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a strategy meeting to highlight the importance of psychological tactics in competitive situations.
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To capture an enemies army is better than to destroy it.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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