Art of War 1.24
The Art of War (孫子兵法), Laying Plans 計篇
攻其無備出其不意
Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Character glossary
- 攻gōngto accuse; to assault; to criticize
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 無wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 備bèito prepare; to get ready, to equip; read
- 出chūto go out, to send out; stand; produce
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 意yìthought, idea, opinion; desire, wish; me
Passages with shared wording
- Art of War 10.5
- Art of War 6.5
- Mencius 4A.25
- Analects 14.28
- Zhuangzi Exercise of Faculties
- Analects 12.21
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.