Quotes on Strategist

Trees die from the top”. No one should ever become a strategist unless he or she is willing to have his or her character serve as a model for subordinates

The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

American strategists have calculated the proportion of civilians killed in this century's major wars. In the First World War, 5 percent of those killed were civilians, in the Second World War 48 percent, while in a Third World War 90-95 percent would be civilians.

Sound strategy starts with having the right goal

It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.

If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.

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.

They [spies] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness.

Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.

Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity.

Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.

The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.

All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.

God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.

Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.