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" Of all those in the army close to the commander none is more intimate than the secret agent; of all rewards none more liberal than those given to secret agents; of all matters none is more confidential than those relating to secret operations. "

Sun Tzu

Liberal

Matters

Related Quotes:

" When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce. "

" The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim. "

Sun Tzu

Quality

Destroy

" The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand. "

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

" To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence. "

" He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. "

" There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited. "

" If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril. "

" Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy. "

" There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare. "

" The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom. "

" Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance. "

" Balk the enemy's power; force him to reveal himself. "

" The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable. "

" Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory. "

" If fighting is sure to result in victory, than you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding. "

" Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and you know Earth, you may make your victory complete. "

" Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate. "

" The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. "

" For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards. "

" It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results. "

" Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory. "

" Victory usually goes to the army who has better trained officers and men. "

" Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move. "

" It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus doubled agents are recruited and used. "

" 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. "

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

" He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. "

" Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. "

" If your opponent is of choleric temper, irritate him. "