Quote of the day by Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu: ‘Victorious warriors win first and then go to war…’

Sun Tzu was a Chinese military strategist and general who served the state of Wu near the end of the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE). According to Britannica, he is traditionally considered the author of The Art of War. The work, however, is highly likely to have been written early in the Warring States period (475–221 BCE).

This was a time when China was divided into six or seven states that often resorted to war with one another to gain supremacy. Sun Tzu, whose name is rendered as Sunzi in Pinyin romanization, was personally known as Sun Wu, according to Britannica. He flourished during the 5th century BCE, with his period of activity commonly dated between 400 BCE and 301 BCE. He is best known for his notable work, The Art of War.

Quote of the day by Sun Tzu: “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”


Meaning of the quote: The quote depicts the mindset and thought process of a military strategist of Sun Tzu's caliber and reputation. The quote emphasizes that successful leaders prepare and plan so well that victory is almost certain before any fighting begins. They are visionary and read the situation well to understand what needs to be done and make smart decisions first.

Those who lose, on the other hand, jump into conflict without proper planning and then hope they can figure out how to win afterward.

The Art of War

The Art of War is a systematic guide to strategy and tactics intended for rulers and military commanders. The book examines different maneuvers and explains how terrain can influence the outcome of battles.