Treat your soldiers like your children and they'll follow you into deep valleys.

What it means

People follow leaders who care for them into places they would never go for pay alone. Loyalty is earned in how you treat your team on ordinary days. Look after your people and they will look after the mission.

The source

"Treat your soldiers like your children and they'll follow you into deep valleys." Sun Tzu said it in The Art of War 10 (Terrain). Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.

"視卒如嬰兒，故可以與之赴深溪；視卒如愛子，故可與之俱死。"

Original Chinese, The Art of War 10 (Terrain). Text read at zh.wikisource.org.

Who said it

Sun Tzu (c. 5th century BC). Chinese general traditionally credited with The Art of War, a short book on strategy that values preparation, deception and winning without battle. It has been read by commanders, athletes and founders ever since.

Questions

What does "Treat your soldiers like your children and they'll follow you into deep valleys." mean?

People follow leaders who care for them into places they would never go for pay alone. Loyalty is earned in how you treat your team on ordinary days. Look after your people and they will look after the mission.

Who said "Treat your soldiers like your children and they'll follow you into deep valleys."?

Sun Tzu (c. 5th century BC). Source: The Art of War 10 (Terrain).

What is the original Chinese?

視卒如嬰兒，故可以與之赴深溪；視卒如愛子，故可與之俱死。. Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.

Is "Treat your soldiers like your children and they'll follow you into deep valleys." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 6 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"Treat your soldiers like your children and they'll follow you into deep valleys." (Sun Tzu, The Art of War 10 (Terrain), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/treat-your-soldiers-like-your-children-and-theyll