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Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

是故勝兵先勝而後求戰，敗兵先戰而後求勝。

Original text (Chinese)

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Variants

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

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War

More quotes by Sun Tzu

All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

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.

Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.

Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.

The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Sun Tzu (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.