Sun Tzu

Quotes are word for word from the source.

• Winning before starting

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

  Our noteSun Tzu contrasts the approaches of successful and unsuccessful strategists.

• Building Team Loyalty

  “Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.”

  Our noteSun Tzu advises on how to foster deep loyalty within a team.

• Value of Foreknowledge

  “Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.”

  Our noteSun Tzu explains that success comes from gathering intelligence before acting.

• Avoid overextension

  “the division of the forces which this strategy involves, is to be everywhere weak, rendering the army liable to be taken in detail by the concentrated forces of the enemy.”

  Our noteHe warns against spreading resources too thin, which leads to vulnerability against focused competitors.

• Defensive vs Offensive

  “If victory be unattainable, we stand on the defensive; if victory be sure, we attack. Deficiency compels defence; super-abundance permits attack.”

  Our noteDeciding when to conserve resources versus when to aggressively pursue growth.

• Reliance on Preparation

  “do not depend on the enemy's not coming, but rely on your own preparations; do not count on the enemy not attacking your fortress, but leave nothing undefended.”

  Our noteSuccess comes from internal readiness rather than external luck.

• Balanced leadership

  “By humane treatment we obtain obedience; authority brings uniformity. Thus we obtain victory.”

  Our noteThe master explains how to combine empathy with discipline to lead a team effectively.

• Exploiting weakness

  “Take immediate advantage of the enemy's weakness; discover what he most values, and plan to seize it.”

  Our noteHow to gain leverage by identifying and targeting an opponent's core assets.