“If your opponent is of choleric temper,  seek to irritate him.  Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.”

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Meaning

The quote advises using an opponent’s emotions against them. If someone is easily angered, you can provoke them into making mistakes. It also suggests appearing weaker than you are so the other person becomes overconfident.

When It Was Said

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Who It Was Said To

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Historical Context

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Source

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Original Language & Translation

Originally said in English.

Did They Really Say It?

No source found on Wikiquote; the quote is listed as attributed to Sun Tzu.

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About Sun Tzu

Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher and writer, Eastern Zhou period

Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer from the Eastern Zhou period. He is traditionally credited with writing The Art of War, the classic Chinese treatise on military strategy. The work is associated with the Warring States period, although the earliest parts likely appeared at least a century after Sun Tzu. His name endures above all through this text, which has shaped how military strategy is discussed and studied.

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