sun tzu Flashcards
All warfare is based on deception
All warfare is based on deception
A leader leads by example, not by force
A leader leads by example, not by force
It is more important to out think your enemy, than to out fight him
It is more important to out think your enemy, than to out fight him
Opportunities multiply as they are seized
Opportunities multiply as they are seized
Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems
Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems
If a battle cannot be won do not fight it
If a battle cannot be won do not fight it
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity
Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak
Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak
The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting
The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting
If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things
If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things
To know your enemy, you must become your enemy
To know your enemy, you must become your enemy
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer
Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust
Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt
Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley
Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valle
When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard
When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win
If the enemy opens the door, you must race in
If the enemy opens the door, you must race in
The line between disorder and order lies in logistics
The line between disorder and order lies in logistics
First learn to become invincible, then wait for your enemy’s moment of vulnerability
First learn to become invincible, then wait for your enemy’s moment of vulnerability
The King is only fond of words and cannot carry them into deeds
The King is only fond of words and cannot carry them into deeds
The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline, thus it is in his power to control success
The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline, thus it is in his power to control success
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
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
Build your enemy a golden bridge and he will gladly cross it
Build your enemy a golden bridge and he will gladly cross it
You have to believe in yourself
You have to believe in yourself
When the leader is morally weak and his discipline not strict, when his instructions and guidance are not enlightened, when there are no consistent rules, neighboring rulers will take advantage of this
When the leader is morally weak and his discipline not strict, when his instructions and guidance are not enlightened, when there are no consistent rules, neighboring rulers will take advantage of this
The Nail that sticks up gets hammered first
The Nail that sticks up gets hammered first
“Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, I served in the United States Navy,”
President John F. Kennedy
One who continually reexamines himself and corrects his faults will grow
One who continually reexamines himself and corrects his faults will grow
Form is emptiness, emptiness is form, one should not think of these two as separate things
Form is emptiness, emptiness is form, one should not think of these two as separate things
I am not the way only the way to the way
I am not the way only the way to the way
Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie
Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie
Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye
Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye
It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first
It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first
To climb Mount Fuji you must first find a path
To climb Mount Fuji you must first find a path
Moral decisions do not come in shades of gray, only right and wrong
Moral decisions do not come in shades of gray, only right and wrong
Respect and caution replace fear
Respect and caution replace fear
A samurai has no reason to be cruel, and no need to prove his strength
A samurai has no reason to be cruel, and no need to prove his strength
Courtesy distinguishes a samurai from an animal, and reveals one’s true strength
Courtesy distinguishes a samurai from an animal, and reveals one’s true strength
The decisions he makes and how he carries them out are a reflection of his true nature
The decisions he makes and how he carries them out are a reflection of his true nature
He need not make promises; speaking and doing are as if the same
He need not make promises; speaking and doing are as if the same
The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life
The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life
There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better-stronger-richer-smarter, everything is within, and everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself
There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better-stronger-richer-smarter, everything is within, and everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself
Think lightly of yourself and think deeply of the world
Think lightly of yourself and think deeply of the world
Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself or others
Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself or others
Respect Buddha and the Gods without counting on their help
Respect Buddha and the Gods without counting on their help
You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honor
You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honor
You can only fight the way you practice
You can only fight the way you practice
There is more than one path to the top of the mountain
There is more than one path to the top of the mountain
In strategy you must know the ways of other schools
In strategy you must know the ways of other schools
From one thing know ten thousand things
From one thing know ten thousand things
When one thing becomes two this is not a good thing
When one thing becomes two this is not a good thing
Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die
Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die
You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger
You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger
Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts
Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts
Two great warriors, Time and Patience
Two great warriors, Time and Patience
A man said to the Buddha, “I want Happiness.” Buddha said, first remove “I”, that’s ego, then remove “want”, that’s desire
A man said to the Buddha, “I want Happiness.” Buddha said, first remove “I”, that’s ego, then remove “want”, that’s desire
A little learning is a dangerous thing drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow droughts intoxicate the brain and drinking largely sobers us again
A little learning is a dangerous thing drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow droughts intoxicate the brain and drinking largely sobers us again
