Sun Tzu citáty

page 2

„Skutočným cieľom vojny je mier.“

„Priateľov si držte blízko a nepriateľov ešte bližšie.“

„Strach je skutočným, jediným nepriateľom.“

„Musíte si veriť.“

„V mieri sa pripravte na vojnu. Vo vojne sa pripravte na mier.“

„Malý človek sa môže stať ušľachtilým, ušľachtilý človek môže sa stať malým.“

„Ak poznáš nepriateľa i seba samého, nebudeš porazený. Ak nepoznáš nepriateľa, ale poznáš sám seba, máš 50% šancu na víťazstvo. Ak nepoznáš sám seba, ani nepriateľa, prehráš.“

„Kto pochopil dosah násilia, nebude kráčať cestou moci.“

„Prirodzenosť ľudská je v zásade zlá. To dobré je v nej iba vypestované.“

„Vodca vedie príkladom, nie silou.“

„Ak slová rozkazu nie sú jasné a zreteľné, ak rozkazy nie sú dôkladne pochopené, na vine je generál. Ak sú však jeho rozkazy jasné a vojaci ich napriek tomu neposlúchnu, je to vina ich dôstojníkov.“

„Aby mohol niekto rozprávať o minulosti, musí mať bohaté vedomosti z prítomnosti.“

„Múdrosť človeka je v zbytočnom neuväzovaní.“

„Nádhera neba je v jeho priezračnosti, nádhera človeka v jeho dokonalosti.“

„Niet väčšieho šťastia človeka ako sa vedieť povzniesť nad ľudské biedy.“

„Všade rozmiestňujte svojich pracovníkov. Buďte veľkorysí v sľuboch a daroch, kupujte správy a získavajte komplicov.“

„Všeobecným ľudským želaním je stať sa lepším.“

„Vzdialenosť neznamená nič inšie, než štúdiom sa dopracovať k pravej ľudskosti.“

„Najvyššia dokonalosť spočíva v prelomení odporu nepriateľa bez boja.“

„Kto pozná, kedy môže bojovať a kedy nie, ten zvíťazí.“

“For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

“Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.”

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

“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.”

“Where the army is, prices are high; when prices rise the wealth of the people is exhausted.”

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

“Bestow rewards without respect to customary practice; publish orders without respect to precedent. Thus you may employ the entire army as you would one man.”

“Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute distress.”

“What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.”

“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.”

“And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him.”

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

“Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.”

“Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.”

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

“If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.”

“If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”

“One defends when his strength is inadequate; he attacks when it is abundant.”

“Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical. No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique. If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. This is the way to keep a country at peace and an army intact.”

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

“Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.”

“The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.”

“Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness.”

“WANG XI Opponents cannot exhaust you.”

“The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.”

“Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness; travel by unexpected routes and strike him where he has taken no precautions.”

“If fighting is sure to result in victory, then 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.”

“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”