In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity. — Sun Tzu · Smartyfair

In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.

Sun Tzumilitary strategist · Ancient China (traditionally 6th century BC)Sun Tzu was an ancient Chinese general believed to have written The Art of War, one of the most famous books ever written about strategy and leadership.36 quotes

Source not found yetWisdomAncient

In plain words

When everything is a mess, there is usually a chance hiding in it.

Look up a word

Where these words come from

How sure this is: 36% sureLots of sources credit Sun Tzu with this, and they agree with each other. The book or the speech it first came from hasn't turned up yet.
What turned up: widely attributed; exact wording absent from the complete Art of War (Giles 1910 translation, full text read). Closest genuine passage is VIII.9 — 'in the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage' — which this line paraphrases. Paraphrase class.
Sources checked: en.wikiquote.orgChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 20 August 2026
suntzusaid.comChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 20 August 2026
gutenberg.orgChecked using claude-fable-5, 22 August 2026Giles 1910 full text fetched + searched this pass: 'chaos' occurs once (V.16, a discipline-under-apparent-disorder point, different sentiment); VIII.9 is the closest genuine ancestor (difficulties -> seize advantage); the popular wording is verbatim nowhere in the work.

Nothing made from these words yet — Storyfaire is where they get made.

More from Sun Tzu

All warfare is based on deception.

Sun Tzu If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

Sun Tzu There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.

Sun Tzu Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.

Sun Tzu The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.

Sun Tzu The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage and strictness.

More on wisdom

The wound is the place where the light enters you.

Rumi You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

Marcus Aurelius Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.

Marcus Aurelius An unexamined life is not worth living.

Socrates Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.

Plato However far a stream flows, it never forgets its source.Yoruba proverb