Quotes About Strategy

By METHOD AND DISCIPLINE are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure. 11.  These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.

Confront your soldiers with the deed itself; never let them know your design. When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.

Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

8.    EARTH comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death. 9.    The COMMANDER stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.

Chapter1 Laying Plans

16.  While heading the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules. 17.  According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one's plans.

Those who were called skillful leaders of old knew how to drive a wedge between the enemy's front and rear; [More literally, cause the front and rear to lose touch with each other.] to prevent co-operation between his large and small divisions; to hinder the good troops from rescuing the bad, the officers from rallying their men. 16. When the enemy's men were united, they managed to keep them in disorder.

Utilizar el orden para enfrentarse al desorden, utilizar la calma para enfrentarse con los que se agitan, esto es dominar el corazón.

If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.

He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. (2)

7. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.

The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and to utilise combined energy.

Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack." It

to be well-fed while the enemy is famished: — this is the art of husbanding one's strength.

So morning energy is keen, midday energy slumps, evening energy recedes—therefore those skilled in use of arms avoid the keen energy and strike the slumping and receding. These are those who master energy.

Therefore the considerations of the intelligent always include both benefit and harm. As they consider benefit, their work can expand; as they consider harm, their troubles can be resolved.

First, measurement; second, quantity; third, calculation; fourth, comparison; and fifth, victory.

The factors in warfare are: First, measurement; second, quantity; third, calculation; fourth, comparison; and fifth, victory.

The comparison is not very happy, however, because the regularity of the phenomena which Sun Tzu mentions is by no means paralleled in war.]

Warfare is the Way of deception.

Master Sun A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.

Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must blend and harmonize the different elements thereof before pitching his camp. ["Chang Yu says: "the establishment of harmony and confidence between the higher and lower ranks before venturing into the field;

What the ancients called a skilful fighter is one who not only wins but wins with ease...He wins by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes means having already established the certainty of victory; conquering an enemy who is already defeated.