Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Sun TzuRead
All wars are won or lost before they are ever fought.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Preparation and strategy determine the outcome of conflict before it even begins.
This quote by Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of preparation and strategic planning in achieving success in any endeavor, particularly in war. It suggests that victory or defeat is often decided long before the actual confrontation, indicating that understanding one's strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of the opponent, is crucial for winning.
Themes
StrategyPreparationWarVictoryPlanning
In practice
Example use cases
In a leadership seminar, to illustrate the importance of strategic planning.
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
Similar quotes
If all you have to offer is a look that is supposed to be appealing, the you are going to be paid attention to about a tenth as long as you would be if when you speak you are interesting.
Julia RobertsRead
Learn all you can, don't be lazy. Nothing's worse than being stupid. Being broke is bad, but being stupid is what's really bad. And what's really really bad is being broke and stupid. Nothing's much worse than that. Unless you're sick. Sick, broke and stupid, thatβs about as far as you can fall unless you're ugly. Surely that would be the ultimate; ugly, sick, broke and stupid.
Jim RohnRead
Yet how hard most people work for mere dust and ashes and care, taking no thought of growing in knowledge and grace, never having time to get in sight of their own ignorance.
John MuirRead
There is a way of meeting error while on the road of truth.
Victor HugoRead
I think the two things most opposed to good counsel are haste and passion; haste usaully goes hand in hand with folly, passion with coarseness and narrowness of mind.
ThucydidesRead
Inspirational Quotes on: Honesty, Simplicity, Secret, Universe, Modesty, Peace_x000D_ _x000D_ Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.
Thomas JeffersonRead