Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Sun TzuRead
Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Know your strengths and weaknesses compared to your adversaries.
This quote by Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of understanding both your own capabilities and those of your opponents in any competitive situation. By carefully analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each side, a strategist can make informed decisions that leverage their advantages while exploiting the deficiencies of their adversaries.
Themes
StrategyStrengthWeaknessOpponentBattle
In practice
Example use cases
In a business meeting to discuss competitive analysis.
More from Sun Tzu
All quotes βGreat results, can be achieved with small forces.
Sun TzuRead
To capture an enemies army is better than to destroy it.
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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.
Sun TzuRead
You can ensure the success of your attacks if you only attack places that are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. Therefore, that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.
Sun TzuRead
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Sun TzuRead
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