He Who Is Prudent And Lies

From Chapter 3 (Strategic Attack) of The Art of War, which was composed around the 5th century BC during China's Spring and Autumn period. The passage reflects Sun Tzu's broader principle that timing and readiness are decisive: the commander who has prepared thoroughly and waits for the enemy's moment of unpreparedness holds a structural advantage regardless of relative force size. This principle of patient positioning underpins much of The Art of War's approach to conflict, and was later influential on Genghis Khan's operational methods.