Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Sun TzuRead
With regard to narrow passes, if you can occupy them first, let them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of strategic positioning and readiness in leadership.
Sun Tzu's quote highlights the significance of fortifying key strategic points before facing an adversary. By occupying narrow passes and establishing a strong defense, one can prepare for an impending conflict effectively. It underscores the necessity of preparation, anticipation, and the tactical advantage of controlling critical areas in warfare or leadership scenarios.
Themes
StrategyLeadershipPreparednessFortificationDefense
In practice
Example use cases
During a corporate strategy meeting to emphasize the importance of being proactive rather than reactive.
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.
Sun TzuRead
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
Similar quotes
To be a good leader, you have to be a good communicator. As a leader, you have to communicate your intent every chance you get, and if you fail to do that, you will pay the consequences.
William H. McravenRead
If you're looking for the safe choice, you shouldn't be supporting a black guy named Barack Obama to be the next leader of the free world.
Barack ObamaRead
Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.
Robert E. LeeRead
I wonder how far Moses would have gone if he had taken a poll in Egypt? What would Jesus Christ have preached if He had taken a poll in the land of Israel? Where would the Reformation have gone if Martin Luther had taken a poll? It isn't polls or public opinion alone of the moment that counts.
Harry S. TrumanRead
Most of my diversity conversations are had with the majority population, because frankly, those people are the people who have the most influence over everybody's career.
Kenneth FrazierRead
I think I lived those years very impersonally. It was almost as though I had erected someone outside myself who was the president's wife. I was lost somewhere deep down inside myself. That is the way I felt and worked until I left the White House.
Eleanor RooseveltRead