Excerpts from Sun Tzu's "The
Art of War"
The Art of War is an ancient Chinese classic by it's greatest
general of all time, Sun Tzu. It is the first known book ever
written about the strategy of waging war. Over two thousand years
old, it is still relevent to anyone engaged in strategic combat
of any kind -- including Trade Wars! If you would like to read
the complete book, click here.
So hear now, oh Trade Warriors, the wisdom of
the ancient master!
The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple
ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes
but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead
to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation
at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who
is likely to win or lose.
All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack,
we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive;
when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away;
when far away, we must make him believe we are near. These military
devices, in order to lead to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, draw him in,
and crush him. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for
him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent
is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak,
that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him
no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him where
he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. Avail yourself
of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules.
According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one's
plans.
To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence;
supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance
without engaging in battle. Thus the highest form of generalship
is to balk the enemy's plans; the next best is to prevent the
junction of the enemy's forces; the next in order is to attack
the enemy's army in the field; and the worst policy of all is
to besiege the enemy behind a walled city. Therefore the skillful
leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting; he captures
their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their
kingdom without lengthy operations in the field. With his forces
intact he will dispute the mastery of the Empire, and thus, without
losing a man, his triumph will be complete. This is the supreme
method of waging war by strategy.
Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory:
1. He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
2. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior
forces.
3. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout
all its ranks.
4. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy
unprepared.
5. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered
with by the sovereign.
Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you
need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself
but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer
a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will
succumb in every battle.
A skillful military operation should be like a swift snake that
counters with it's tail when someone strikes it's head, counters
with it's head when someone strikes its tail. and counters with
both head and tail when someone strikes at its middle.
The rule of military operations is not to count on opponents not
coming, but to rely on having ways to deal with them; not to count
on opponents not attacking, but to rely on having what cannot
be attacked.
Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to
defeat the enemy means taking the offensive. Standing on the defensive
indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of
strength. The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most
secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes
forth from the topmost heights of heaven. Thus on the one hand
we have ability to protect ourselves; on the other, a victory
that is complete.
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