Supreme excellence is breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.

By Sun Tzu, from L'Art de la guerre

Key Arguments

  • He contrasts mere battlefield victories with the higher standard of compelling collapse without combat.

Source Quotes

2. Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting. 3.

Key Concepts

  • Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.

Context

iii. Attack by Stratagem (lines 177–227)