Sun Tzu citáty

strana 2

26 cenných poznatků o strategii a umění vítězit

„Strach je opravdový nepřítel, jediný nepřítel.“

„Vůdce vede příkladem, nikoli silou.“

„Přátele si drž u těla, nepřátele ještě blíž.“

„V míru se připravte na válku. Ve válce se připravte na mír.“

„Ten, kdo ví, kdy může bojovat a kdy nemůže, zvítězí.“

„Umění války nás učí nedoufat, že nepřítel nepřijde, ale spoléhat se na to, že jsme připraveni ho přivítat; nedoufat, že nezaútočí, ale spoléhat se, že jsme svá postavení učinili nedobytnými.“

„Umění války má pro stát zásadní význam.“

„Proto, chceme-li vést útok, musíme vypadat neschopně; pokud chceme použít síly, musíme vypadat nečinně; pokud jsme blízko, musí to vypadat, že jsme daleko; pokud jsme daleko, má nepřítel věřit, že jsme blízko.“

„Znám-li nepřítele a znám-li sebe sama, zvítězím, ni pohroma jediná mi hrozit nemůže. Znám-li síly Nebes a Země, vítězství mé bude úplné.“

„Nastraž návnady k přilákání nepřítele. Předstírej zmatek, a rozdrť jej.“

„Abys poznal svého nepřítele, musíš se stát vlastním nepřítelem.“

„Zacházejte se svými muži stejně jako se svými milovanými syny, a budou vás následovat do nejhlubšího údolí.“

„Je možno věděti, jak vítězit a přece nezvítězit.“

„Všichni muži vidí taktiku, kterou dobývám, ale to, co nikdo nevidí, je strategie, z níž se vyvíjí vítězství.“

„Jistá výhoda-li kyne, v pohyb se dej; není-li naděje na úspěch, na místě setrvej.“

„Vybojovat sto bitev a stokrát zvítězit - není tudíž meta nejvyšší. Bez boje však nepřítele pokořit, toť vpravdě meta nejvyšší.“

„Vyhrát sto vítězství ve sto bitvách není vrcholem dovedností. Pokořit nepřítele bez boje je vrchol dovedností.“

„Pokud má váš soupeř cholerický temperament, snažte se ho rozlobit.“

„Říká se, že pokud znáte své nepřátele a znáte sami sebe, nebudete ve sto bitvách ohroženi; Pokud neznáte své nepřátele, ale znáte sami sebe, jednou vyhrajete a jednou prohrajete; pokud neznáte své nepřátele ani sebe, budete v každé bitvě ohroženi.“

„Vrcholným válečným uměním je podmanit si nepřítele bez boje.“

„Obklíčenému nepříteli musíte ponechat možnost úniku.“

„Musíte si věřit.“

„Dovedete si představit, co bych dělal, kdybych mohl dělat všechno, co umím?“

„Je-li tvůj nepřítel silnější, tak se vyhni. Jestliže je rozhněvaný, podráždi jej. Jestliže je stejný jako ty, bojuj, a jestliže není, rozděl a znovu jej přehodnoť.“

“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.”