What is the original Chinese?

水因地而制行，兵因敵而制勝。. Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.

水因地而制行，兵因敵而制勝

Water shapes its course to the ground. Shape your win to the opponent.

Sun Tzu, The Art of War 6 (Weak Points and Strong)

What it means

Water doesn't follow a script; it reads the land. Winning comes from adapting to the specific opponent in front of you. Prepare a method, then let the situation shape it.

The source

"Water shapes its course to the ground. Shape your win to the opponent." Sun Tzu said it in The Art of War 6 (Weak Points and Strong). Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.

"水因地而制行，兵因敵而制勝。"

Original Chinese, The Art of War 6 (Weak Points and Strong). 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 "Water shapes its course to the ground. Shape your win to the opponent." mean?: Water doesn't follow a script; it reads the land. Winning comes from adapting to the specific opponent in front of you. Prepare a method, then let the situation shape it.
Who said "Water shapes its course to the ground. Shape your win to the opponent."?: Sun Tzu (c. 5th century BC). Source: The Art of War 6 (Weak Points and Strong).
What is the original Chinese?: 水因地而制行，兵因敵而制勝。. Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.
Is "Water shapes its course to the ground. Shape your win to the opponent." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 6 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"Water shapes its course to the ground. Shape your win to the opponent." (Sun Tzu, The Art of War 6 (Weak Points and Strong), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/water-shapes-its-course-to-the-ground-shape