Quotes from Sun Tzu

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. (LP 19)

A menos que tu corazón esté totalmente abierto y tu mente en orden, no puedes esperar ser capaz de adaptarte a responder sin límites, a manejar los acontecimientos de manera infalible, a enfrentarte a las dificultades graves e inesperadas sin turbarte, dirigiendo cada cosa sin confusión.

Conseguir cien victorias en cien batallas no es la medida de la habilidad: someter al enemigo sin luchar es la suprema excelencia.

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

Now the troops of those adept in war are used like the 'Simultaneously Responding' snake of Mount Ch'ang. When struck on the head its tail attacks; when struck on the tail, its head attacks, when struck in the centre bot head and tail attack.

Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.

a man whose heart is set on returning home will fight to the death against any attempt to bar his way, and is therefore too dangerous an opponent to be tackled.

Toda guerra se basa en el engaño.

1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law? (2) Which of the two generals has most ability? (3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth? (4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced? (5) Which army is stronger? (6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained? (7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?

Their blows are correlated. The cheng and the ch'i are compared to two interlocked rings: 'Who can tell where one begins and the other ends?' Their possible permutations are infinite; the cheng effort may be transformed into a ch'i, a ch'i into a cheng. Thus we may redefine a ch'i attack as one made where a decision is speedily attainable at least cost, in an area characterized by voids or fissures in the enemy's defences.

Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat:

One ignorant of the plans of neighboring states cannot prepare alliances in good time; if ignorant of the conditions of mountains, forests, dangerous defiles, swamps and marshes he cannot conduct the march of an army; if he fails to make use of native guides he cannot gain the advantages of the ground. A general ignorant of even one of these three matters is unfit to command the armies of a Hegemonic King.

When the helper is strong, the nation is secure; when the helper is weak, the nation is in peril.

Así es como en la guerra, el estratega victorioso solo busca la batalla después de que la victoria ya se ha ganado, mientras que aquel destinado a la derrota, primero pelea y después busca la victoria.

If I am able to determine the enemy's dispositions while at the same time I conceal my own then I can concentrate and he must divide.

the latter, hence Hou employed him. Their great achievements were all for the good of the people.

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. [Chang Yu said: "Knowing the enemy enables you to take the offensive, knowing yourself enables you to stand on the defensive." He adds: "Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack." It would be hard to find a better epitome of the root-principle of war.]

Si los parlamentarios del enemigo pronuncian discursos llenos de humildad, pero continúa con sus preparativos, es que va a avanzar.

17. Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength. 18. Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.

19. 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.

Flexibility in our lives means having a fundamental ability to relate to any new environment and excel in it.

He who advances Without seeking Fame, Who retreats Without escaping Blame, He whose one aim is To protect his people And serve his lord, This man is A Jewel of the Realm.

A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind.

Recordar siempre el peligro cuando estás a salvo y el caos en tiempos de orden, permanece atento al peligro y al caos mientras no tengan todavía forma y evítalos antes de que se presenten; ésta es la mejor estrategia de todas.