He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will

The ancient master of strategy, Sun Tzu, declared: “He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.” These words, drawn from The Art of War, are as sharp as the blade of a warrior and as enduring as the wisdom of ages. In them lies a timeless law: prudence is strength, and patience is a weapon greater than steel. The one who acts with foresight, who observes, who restrains his impulses until the right moment, will overcome the reckless, no matter how fierce their initial charge.

For to be prudent is to see beyond the surface of battle, whether that battle is fought with armies, words, or daily struggles. The prudent leader waits, watching the enemy reveal his weaknesses, exhausting himself with rashness. Like the hunter in the forest, he does not waste his arrows on shadows, but strikes only when the prey has exposed itself. Sun Tzu’s wisdom is not only for war, but for life: victory belongs not to the reckless who act without thought, but to the cautious who prepare and wait for the opportune hour.

The ancients themselves embodied this truth. Consider Fabius Maximus, the Roman general who faced Hannibal of Carthage. Hannibal was reckless and brilliant, striking with speed and ferocity. Yet Fabius, mocked as “the Delayer,” refused to fight on Hannibal’s terms. He shadowed the Carthaginian army, cut its supplies, and waited. His prudence frustrated his foe, and though Rome hungered for boldness, it was his patience that saved the Republic from annihilation. Here we see Sun Tzu’s words come alive: the prudent lying in wait overcame the rash.

History also gives us a tragic contrast. Napoleon, mighty in ambition, marched into Russia with haste, ignoring warnings, unprepared for winter’s cruelty. He was not prudent, nor patient. The Russians, retreating strategically, waited with the cold and the snow as their allies. The French army, though once unstoppable, crumbled in the frozen wastes. The prudent enemy, willing to wait, claimed the victory. Thus the wisdom of Sun Tzu rings true: patience and preparation defeat recklessness.

The meaning of this quote is both stern and empowering. Stern, because it condemns rashness, reminding us that to act without thought is to invite ruin. Empowering, because it teaches us that even against stronger foes, the careful and the patient may prevail. We do not always need greater strength, only greater wisdom. The one who lies in wait, guided by prudence, multiplies his power by time and by knowledge.

The lesson for us is clear: in the battles of life—whether in conflict, in work, or in personal struggle—we must not rush blindly. When faced with opposition, do not act in haste; instead, pause, study, prepare. Let the imprudent exhaust themselves, reveal their flaws, and stumble in their arrogance. Then act decisively, with clarity and force. In this way, the smallest can overcome the mighty, and the patient can overcome the rash.

The practical action is this: cultivate prudence in your daily life. Before making great decisions, consider carefully. Weigh the risks. Be willing to wait when the moment is not yet ripe. And when the time comes, strike with all your strength, for the prudent do not wait forever—they wait until their hour has come. In this rhythm of patience and decisive action lies the secret to enduring victory.

Therefore, O listener, engrave upon your heart the wisdom of Sun Tzu: “He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.” Be not reckless in your battles, nor hasty in your choices. Arm yourself with patience, clothe yourself in caution, and wait until the moment reveals itself. For when it comes, you shall act with the certainty of destiny, and victory will be yours.