Quotes About Strategy

of Turenne, deception of the enemy, especially as to the numerical strength of his troops, took a

cited by Pi I-hsun, we may see in this theory a probable solution of the mystery. Between Ssu-ma Ch`ien and

Tzu except the 82 P`IEN, whereas the Sui and T`ang bibliographies give the titles of others in addition to the 13 chapters, is good proof, Pi I-hsun thinks, that all of these were contained in the 82 P`IEN. Without

Moreover, The Art of War ends with a quiet coda whose firm assertion is too often overlooked: that even the most impressive empires fall as soon as their rulers, by their careless conduct, lose or cast aside the best men in their employ.

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

He who only sees the obvious, wins his battles with difficulty; he who looks below the surface of things, wins with ease.

very well represent a collected edition of these lumped together with the original work. It is also possible

All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved

Spies are a most important element in water, because on them depends an army's ability to move.

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

latter accretions are not to be considered part of the original work. Tu Mu's assertion can certainly not be taken as proof. There is every reason to suppose, then, that the 13 chapters existed in the time of Ssu-ma

When doing battle, seek a quick victory. A protracted battle will blunt weapons and dampen ardor. If troops lay siege to a walled city, their strength will be exhausted. If the army is exposed to a prolonged campaign, the nation's resources will not suffice.4 When weapons are blunted and ardor dampened, strength exhausted and resources depleted, the neighboring rulers will take advantage of these complications.5

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)

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.

Toda guerra se basa en el engaño.

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.

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.