To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

Sun Tzu

The Art of War

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More information about this quote

Topic

Military strategy

Author

Sun Tzu

Source

The Art of War

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Military treatise

Language

Chinese

Time

500 BC 500s BC 6th century BC

Occupation

General Philosopher Writer

From

China Asia

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Sun Tzu. 孫子兵法 [The Art of War]. c. 475 BC, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Sun Tzu. The Art of War: The Essential Translation of the Classic Book of Life, translated by John Minford. Penguin Classics, 2009, ch. 3.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Sun Tzu about military strategy: “To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence;…”
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A quote by Sun Tzu about military strategy: “To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence;…”
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A quote by Sun Tzu about military strategy: “To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence;…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 6th century BC

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Ahiqar

More information about this quote
Topic
Minimizing risk Risk

Author

Ahiqar
Source
Proverbs of Ahiqar
Genre
Wisdom literature
Language
Assyrian
Time
500 BC 500s BC 6th century BC
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Ahiqar. The Story of Ahikar. c. 500 BC.

Current Citation

Ahiqar. The Story of Ahikar, translated by Herbert Lindenberger. The John Hopkins Near Eastern Studies, 1983.

Another quote originally in Chinese

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching

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More information about this quote
Topic
Patience Persistence One step at a time

Author

Lao Tzu
Source
Tao Te Ching
Genre
Philosophical literature Religious literature
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
Chinese
Time
400 BC 400s BC 5th century BC
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. 道德經 [Tao Te Ching]. c. 400 BC, ch. 64.

Current Citation

Laozi [Lao Tzu]. "The Natural Way of Lao Tzu." A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, translated by Wing-Tsit Chan. Princeton University Press, 1969, ch. 64.