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Sun Tzu Quotes: Real, Paraphrased, and Misattributed

The internet is full of Sun Tzu quotes he never said. This page separates genuine Giles-translation lines from paraphrase and from misattribution, so you can quote him accurately.

Real, from the Giles translation

Lines like “know the enemy and know yourself” and “subdue the enemy without fighting” are genuinely in The Art of War (Chapters 1 and 3). Our lesson pages cite the chapter for each.

Paraphrase, not verbatim

Some widely shared lines are fair summaries of his meaning but not his exact words. We flag these as paraphrase rather than invent a false citation.

Never in the book

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” is from modern film, not Sun Tzu. Treating it as his words spreads a misattribution; we correct it where we can.

Sun Tzu lessons on this topic

“All warfare is based on deception.”
Chapter 1: Laying Plans
“When able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem 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.”
Chapter 1: Laying Plans
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
Chapter 3: Attack by Stratagem
“To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
Chapter 3: Attack by Stratagem
“In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy’s country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good.”
Chapter 3: Attack by Stratagem
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Chapter 7: Maneuvering

Related strategy topics

Sun Tzu on CompetitionSun Tzu on ConflictSun Tzu on Decision-Making

Frequently asked questions

Did Sun Tzu say “keep your friends close and your enemies closer”?

No. That line is from a modern film, not The Art of War. It is one of the most common Sun Tzu misattributions, and we do not present it as his.

How can I tell a real Sun Tzu quote from a fake?

Check it against a public-domain translation such as Lionel Giles (1910). If it is not there and is not a clearly labeled paraphrase, treat it as misattributed.

More guides

The Art of War SummarySun Tzu Quotes About Leadership, ExplainedSun Tzu’s Strategy for BusinessHow to Apply The Art of War in NegotiationThe Art of War for EntrepreneursSun Tzu on Decision-MakingSun Tzu on Competition