Quotes About Adaptation

Whether in an advantageous position or a disadvantageous one, the opposite state should be always present to your mind.

The Art of War is self-explanatory

By reinforcing every part, he weakens every part.

We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country -- its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps.

The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.

He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

So a military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape: the ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius.

Military formation is like water—the form of water is to avoid the high and go to the low, the form of a military force is to avoid the full and attack the empty; the flow of water is determined by the earth, the victory of a military force is determined by the opponent.

The victorious army is victorious first and seeks battle later; the defeated army seeks battle first and seeks victory later.

Those who are able to adapt and change in accord with the enemy and achieve victory are called divine.

The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not

Employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.

Therefore victory in war is not repetitious, but adapts its form endlessly.

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.

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.

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

De ahí el dicho: conoce al enemigo y conócete a ti mismo, y sobre tu victoria no caerán dudas; conoce el Cielo y la Tierra, y tu victoria estará asegurada del todo.

Sun Tzu said: We may distinguish six kinds of terrain, to wit: (1) Accessible ground; (2) Entangling ground;               (3) Temporizing ground;               (4) Narrow passes; (5) Precipitous heights; (6) Positions at a great distance from the enemy.

It is not the best thing to win every battle one is engaged in; the best thing is to win without planning to win. This is perfect victory.

to concentrate or to divide your troops, must be decided by circumstances.      17. Let your rapidity be that of the wind, [The simile is doubly

He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain

la norma general de las operaciones militares consiste en no contar con que el enemigo no acuda, sino confiar en tener los medios de enfrentarte a él; no contar con que el adversario no ataque, sino confiar en poseer lo que no puede ser atacado.

Et quand j'ai remporté une bataille, je ne répète pas ma tactique, mais je réponds aux circonstances selon une variété infinie de voies.

Il en doit être des troupes à peu près comme d'une eau courante. De même que l'eau qui coule évite les hauteurs et se hâte vers le pays plat, de même une armée évite la force et frappe la faiblesse.