The Art of War by Sun TZU

Themes: War, winning, enemy, tactic, victory, defeat, battles, approach to win, life principles, leader, leading people, organization, working with others
Buy it on Amazon: The Art of War
The author: Sun Tzu

This is my book summary of The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

The summary mainly includes the most important quotes from the book and my own thoughts.

Quotes

"War is a matter of cunning."

"The art of war is an area that cannot be neglected."

• "Lure the enemy. Fake the mess, then crush it."

• "Catch him off guard, get to the moment he least expects."

• "The general who wins his battles spends a lot of time preparing them. The general who loses them is too hasty. Long deliberations lead to victory; haste, defeat. Go without thinking and you will be crushed! Just by watching you, I make myself strong to predict who will win or lose."

• "That is why supreme excellence does not consist in conquering everything but rather in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting."

• "Victory is the result of estimating chances."

(Victory is also increasing its probability by taking actions and preparing in advance)

• "The direct method of fighting must always be used, but it is by the indirect method that victory is ensured."

• "The skilled warrior deceives the enemy according to the situation. He does not hesitate to sacrifice something to lure his opponent."

• "The decoys make the enemy walk; then it is enough to ambush him."

• "The first to arrive on the battlefield to wait for the enemy is in shape for the fight; the second, who must hurry, arrive exhausted."

• "Discover everything there is to know about the enemy by remaining invisible yourself: your forces will remain united while his will be divided."

• "In war, you have to strike where the enemy is weak and stay away from where the enemy is strong."

• "The one who knows how to change strategy according to his adversary will be victorious and we can consider him as sent by the heavens."

• "The ignorant will be defeated."

• "Your plans must be as impenetrable as night."

• "The wise general knows how to consider both advantages and disadvantages."

• "The one who does not think and underestimates his opponents will end up captured by them."

• "Know yourself and know your enemy and you will win the war."

• "If I am asked what to do in the face of a well-organized enemy who is ready to launch an attack, I will say this: Start by seizing something the enemy considers valuable and it will be at your mercy."

• Wise rulers and skillful generals make great conquerors because they are eager to know things in advance."

• "Because securing a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not very clever. The ultimate skill is to defeat without fighting."

• "5 dangerous defects are likely to affect a general:

  1. Recklessness will lead to destruction.

  2. Cowardice, which leads to capture

  3. An angry temper, often due to insults

  4. A particularly pronounced sense of honor, the fear of shame.

  5. An excess of concern for his men, which may cause him concern."

• "Never use twice a tactic that has assured you victory; let circumstances take you to the most varied methods."

• "The problem is to turn misadventures into benefits."