The more troops, the better I command them.
狡兎死、走狗烹。飛鳥尽、良弓蔵。敵国破、謀臣亡。
Military Strategists
Han Xin
The greatest military mind of early imperial China, whose campaigns established the Han dynasty (c. 231-196 BCE). Han Xin's tactical innovations — including the legendary 'battle with backs to the river' — demonstrated that battlefield psychology and terrain exploitation could overcome any numerical disadvantage. His reward was execution by the emperor he helped enthrone.
View this figure's profile
Han Xin's Other Quotes
Place them in a deadly situation and they will survive; put them on ground where death is certain and they will live.
When the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is boiled.
When I served Xiang Yu, my rank never exceeded that of a palace guard, and my position was no more than a halberd-bearer. My words went unheeded, my plans unused -- and so I left Chu for Han.
Related Quotes
Experience is the teacher of all things.
-- Julius Caesar
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
-- George Orwell
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
-- Muhammad Ali
The greatest joy of a conqueror is to drive his enemies before him, to seize their horses and treasure, and to hear the lamentation of their women.
-- Genghis Khan
War is merely the continuation of politics by other means.
-- Carl von Clausewitz
A conqueror must wield both the sword and the law.
-- Timur