Quotes from The Art of War (Sun Tzu)
August 23rd 2007 04:13
Translations by Giles can be found online at Project Guttenberg.
Incidentally, Sun Tzu (otherwise known as "Sun Wu"; "Sun Tzu" is an honorific meaning "Master Sun") lived in the State of Wu from around 544BC to 496BC, during the so-called Warring States Period. The Art of War was written sometime in the 6th century BC.
A bamboo edition of the Art of War, commissioned in the eighteenth century
Chapter 1: Laying plans
* 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 that we are away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is superior in 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 inactive, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
Chapter 2: Waging war
* Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been associated with long delays. There is no instance of a country having been benefited from prolonged warfare.
Chapter 3: Attack by stratagem
Bronze and iron helmets from the warring states period (476-221 BC)
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. The worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.
* [T]here are five essentials for victory:
He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all ranks.
He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.
* 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.
Chapter four: Tactical dispositions
* To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
* What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.
Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom not credit for courage. He wins his battles by making no mistakes.
* Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist seeks battle after his plans indicate that victory is possible under them, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights without skillful planning and expects victory to come without planning.
Chapter five: Use of energy
Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one. It is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.
* Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as heaven and earth... There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than probably can ever be heard. There are not more than three primary colors... There are not more than five tastes...
* Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision... masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.
* 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 utilize combined energy.
Chapter six: Weak points and strong
* Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to the battle, will arrive exhausted.
* By holding out advantages... [the clever combatant] can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or by inflicting damage he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near.
If the enemy is taking his ease he can harass him; if well supplied he can starve him out; if quietly encamped, he can force him to move.
Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.
* You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you attack places which are not defended. You can insure the safety of your defense if you hold only positions that cannot be attacked.
Hence the general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.
* If we wish to fight the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need to do is attack some other place which he will be obliged to relieve.
* By discovering the enemy's dispositions and remaining invisible ourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated while the enemy must be divided.
We can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up into fractions.
* For should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear... should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right... If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will be everywhere weak.
* Numerical weakness comes from having to prepare against possible attacks; numerical strength, from compelling our adversary to make these preparations against us.
* Rouse him, and learn the principles of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself...
* All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.
Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.
* Water shapes its course according to the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.
Chapter seven: Maneuvring an army
Terracotta warrior from the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)
We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides.
* The host thus forming a single united body, it is impossible either for the brave to advance alone, or for the cowardly to retreat alone. This is the art of handling large masses of men.
* To refrain from intercepting an emeny whose ranks are in perfect order... this is the art of studying circumstances.
* It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.
* When you surround an army leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.
Chapter eight: Variation of tactics
* When in difficult country do not encamp. In country where high roads intersect join hands with your allies. Do not linger in dangerously isolated positions. In hemmed-in situations where you are you must resort to strategem. In a desperate position, you must fight.
There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.
* The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.
There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: Recklessness, which leads to destruction; cowardice, which leads to capture; a hasty temper that can be provoked by insults; a delicacy of honor that is sensitive to shame; over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble...
When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause will surely be found among the five dangerous faults.
Chapter nine: The army on the march
The bronze sword of King Goujian, from about 500BC
* Do not move upstream to meet the enemy.
* When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on the natural strength of his position.
When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious for the other side to advance.
If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering a bait.
* The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.
When there is dust rising in a high column, it is the sign of chariots advancing; when the dust is low, but spread over a wide area, it betokens the approach of infantry. When it branches out in different directions, it shows that parties have been sent out to collect firewood. A few clouds of dust moving to and fro signify that the army is camping.
* Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.
* When some of the enemy are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.
* If birds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied.
* If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak.
* If the officers are angry, the men are weary.
* [W]hen the men do not hang their cooking pots over their camp-fires, showing that they will not return to their tents, you may know that they are determined to fight to the death.
The sight of men whispering together in small knots and speaking in subdued tones points to dissatisfaction amongst the rank and file.
Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his resources. Too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress.
To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows supreme lack of intelligence.
Chapter ten: Classification of terrain
* When the higher officers are angry and insubordinate, and on meeting the enemy give battle independently, on their own account... before the commander-in-chief can tell whether or not he is in a position to fight, the result is ruin.
When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are not clear and distinct; when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganization.
* If fighting is reasonable sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting promises not to result in victory, then you must not fight, even at the ruler's bidding.
* Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you wherever you may lead. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.
If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder, then your soldiers must be likened to spoiled children. They are useless for any practical purpose.
* If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.
Film still from 'The Emperor and the Assassin', set in the third century BC
Chapter eleven: The nine situations
* Those who of old were called skillful leaders knew how to drive a wedge between the enemy's front and rear; 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.
* Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. Officers and men alike will put forth their uttermost strength.
* Soldiers when in desperate straits lose the sense of fear. If there is no place of refuge, they will stand firm.
* Prohibit seeking for omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death comes, no apparently predestined calamity need be feared.
* On the day they are ordered out to battle, your soldiers may weep, those sitting up bedewing their garments, and those lying down letting the tears run down their cheeks. But let them once be brought to bay, and they will display the courage of any of our heroes.
* The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.
* By altering his arrangements and changing his plans, [the skillful general] keeps the enemy without definite knowledge of his movements. By shifting his camp and taking circuitous routes, he prevents the enemy from anticipating his purpose.
* When invading hostile territory the general principle is that penetrating deeply brings cohesion; penetrating only a short way means dispersion.
* 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.
Chapter twelve: attack by fire
* Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.
* If it is to your advantage to make a forward move, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.
Chapter thirteen: Use of spies
* Hostile armies may face each other for years... This being so, to remain in ignorance of the enemy's condition simply because one grudges the outlay of a hundred ounces of silver in honours and emoluments, is the height of inhumanity.
* [Among the classes of spies is "doomed spies". The translator quotes a commentator: "We thus ostentatiously do things calculated to deceive our own spies; who must be led to believe that they have been unwittingly disclosed. Then, when these spies are captured in the enemy's lines, they will make an entirely false report, and the enemy will take measures accordingly, only to find that we do something quite different. The spies will thereupon be put to death."]
***
The purported image of Sun Tzu came from Wikipedia, as did the images of the various versions of the text. The Paris Hilton image came from this website. The Chinese armour and terracotta soldier came from this site. The bronze sword came from Wikipedia. The image from "The Emperor and the Assassin" came from this site.
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Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I hope I never have to participate in a war, that's for sure - but these instructions are helpful in general as well.
Comment by Damo
I did enjoy reading the book and would recommend it to anyone even if they are not interested in war.
I wrote a post on the subject from a different viewpoint some time back here
This quote I think is very apt today:
Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been associated with long delays. There is no instance of a country having been benefited from prolonged warfare.
Seeing Paris Hilton with the book probably means that she is looking at the picture only.
Also the audio version which I picked up a few months ago is also very good.
Comment by SSuperBB3
Thank You
Comment by Anonymous
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