He who cannot govern himself cannot govern others.

A single arrow is easily broken, but a bundle of arrows cannot be broken.

An action committed in anger is an action doomed to failure.

After victory, tighten the cords of your helmet.

-- Toyotomi Hideyoshi's chief strategist and the architect of his greatest victories

Without detachment, one cannot clarify purpose; without tranquility, one cannot reach far.

-- The legendary chancellor and military strategist of the Shu Han kingdom during China's Three Kingdoms period

Before wine, one should sing — for how long is life? Like morning dew, so many days have passed.

-- The dominant warlord of China's Three Kingdoms era

Promote talent and talent alone.

-- The dominant warlord of China's Three Kingdoms era

The more troops, the better I command them.

-- 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

Writing is only good for recording names. Swordsmanship defeats one man — that's not worth learning. I want to learn what defeats ten thousand.

-- The 'Hegemon-King of Western Chu' whose raw military genius made him the most feared commander of ancient China's civil wars