Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Sun TzuRead
Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding your enemy is crucial for successful strategy and can only be gathered through information from others.
This quote by Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of intelligence and information in conflicts and strategies. It suggests that to effectively counter an adversary, one must gather knowledge about them, often through insights provided by individuals who have experienced or observed the enemy's behavior and strategies. This principle applies not only in warfare but in various competitive scenarios where understanding an opponent's intentions and resources can lead to a more advantageous position.
Themes
KnowledgeEnemyStrategyIntelligenceConflict
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a business meeting to highlight the importance of market research against competitors.
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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