Sun Tzu's Art Of War.

At last I've found out what Sun Tzu's The Art Of War is all about. I keep hearing people talk about it but never did look it up in the library until a few days ago.

My my, Sun Tzu is one heck of a genius when it comes to warfare. The principles in this book are simple and straightforward but they are no doubt powerful when put to good use. Now don't think The Art Of War is used purely for warfare only. Business tycoons and CEOs use it in their coperations, too. In fact, it is said that The Art Of War is a must-have for all executives in the business world. It is especially useful for the inevitable office politics that arrises in every company. A person who wants to rise up the ranks without facing competition and backstabbing has got to know the principles of The Art Of War...

Here are some important quotes that I've recorded from this book. I sure hope they can help in at least the smallest of problems you may have in your career as well as in your personal life.

Chapter 1: Planning

"All warfare is based on deception. Therefore, when capable, pretend to be incapable; when active, inactive; when near, make the enemy believe that you are far away; when far away, that you are near."


"Hold out baits to lure the enemy; feign disorder and strike him. When he has the advantageous position, prepare against him; when he is strong, avoid him. If he is prone to choleric temper, irritate him."


"More planning shall give greater possibility of victory while less planning, lesser possibility of victory. So how about those without planning?"

Chapter 2: Waging War

"Victory is the main object in war. If this is long delayed, weapons will become blunt and the ardour of the soldiers will be dampened."


"Thus, while we have heard of stupid haste in war, we have not yet seen a clever operation that was prolonged. History has shown that there has never been a country benefiting from prolonged warfare."


"In war, what matters is victory, not prolonged campaigns. And therefore the general who understands war is the arbiter of the people's fate, and on him depends whether the nation shall be at peace or in danger."

Chapter 3: Offensive Strategy

"Fighting to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the supreme skill. However to break the enemy's resistance without fighting is the supreme skill."


"A general is like the spoke of a wheel. If the connection is tight and complete, the wheel will be strong and so will be the State; if the connection is defective, then the State will be weak."


"If you know yourself and know your enemy, in a hundred battles you will never fear the result. When you know yourself but not your enemy, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you are certain to be in danger in every battle."

Chapter 4: Tactics

"Invincibility lies in one's own hands, but the enemy's vulnerability is of his own making. Thus, those skilled in war can make themselves invincible but the enemy's vulnerability is provided only by the enemy himself."


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


"Therefore, a skillful commander puts himself in a position secured against defeat and misses no opportunity to defeat his enemy."

Chapter 5: Energy

"Generally, in battle, use the direct methods to engage the enemy forces; indirect methods however are needed to secure victory."


"A skilled commander conserves energy from the situation instead of wasting his men. He selects his men according to their talents and uses them to exploit the situation."

Chapter 6: Weak And Strong Points

"Therefore, the skillful commander imposes his will on the enemy by making the enemy come to him instead of being brought to the enemy."


"By discovering my enemy's dispositions and at the same time concealing mine from him, I can concentrate my forces while he must divide his. Knowing his dispositions, I can pit my total strength against a part of his."


"But if we do not know where or when the enmy will attack, then our front and rear troops, left and right wings cannot protect each other."


"Military tactics are similar to water, for just as flowing water runs away from high places and speeds downwards, so an army avoids the strong enemy and strikes at the weak one."

Chapter 7: Manoeuvres

"Nothing is more difficult than directing manoeuvres. The difficulty lies in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain."


"War is based on deception. Move only if there is a real advantage to be gained. Create changes in the situation by dividing or concentrating your forces."


"Prepare yourselves in good order to await a disorderly enemy; in calmness, await a boisterous one... Close to the battlefield, await for the enemy coming from afar; at ease, await for a tired enemy; with well-fed troops, await for hungry ones."


"Do not pursue an enemy who pretends to flee. Refrain from attacking troops whose spirit is keen. Do not swallow baits put out by the enemy."

Chapter 8: Tactical Variations

"There are some roads which we must not follow; some enemy troops we must not fight; some cities we must not attack; some grounds we must not contest; even some orders from the ruler which we must no obey."


"It is a principle of war that we do not assume the enemy will not come, but instead we must be prepared for his coming; not to presume he will not attack, but instead make our own position unassailable."

Chapter 9: On The March

"When positioning an army to observe the enemy, cross over the mountains and stay close to the valleys. Position yourself on high ground with a wide view."


"Nourish your soldiers well and build up their internal strength so that they are free of hundreds of diseases, and this will ensure victory."


"If the enemy takes up a position that is easy for us to discover and attack, he could be offering an ostensible advantage to trap us."


"When troops are seen whispering amongst themselves in small groups, the general has lost the confidence of his men. Too frequent rewards show that the general is losing control over his men... Too frequent punishments show him to be in dire distress..."


"Secure the loyalty of your troops first before punishing them or they will not be submissive. When they are loyal and if punishment is not enforced, you still cannot use them."

Chapter 10: Terrian

"Ground which is disadvantageous for both the enemy and ourselves is inconclusive ground. In such ground, do not advance to take the enemy's baits but instead seek to lure him forward by our retreat."


"When troops are inclined to flee, insubordinate against commands, distressed, disorganised or defeated, it is the fault of the general as none of these calamities arises from natural causes."


"Thus, the general who advances without coveting fame and withdraws without fearing disgrace, but whose sole intention is to protect the people and do good service for his ruler, is the precious jewel of the State."


"Know your enemy, know yourself and your victory will be undoubted. Know Earth, know Heaven and your victory will be complete."

Chapter 11: The Nine Varieties Of Ground

"We move when there is advantage to gain; we halt when there is none."


"Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy's lack of preparation; move by using unexpected routes and attack where he has made no defence."


"Give attention to the well-being of your men; do not exhaust them unnecessarily. Keep their spirit united; conserve their energy."


"... cultivate a uniform level of courage. Make use of the advantage of the ground so as to bring out the best of both strong and weak soldiers. A wise general thus leads the entire army like he is leading one person."


"The changes of the nine varieties of ground gives varying advantages of attacking and defending; and the behaviour of the soldiers are matters which must be studied seriously."


"If we cannot fathom the designs of our neighbouring states, we cannot enter into alliances... Those who do not know the conditions of mountains, forests, high and dangerous grounds, defiles, marshes, and swamps cannot conduct the march of an army."


"Bestow rewards without regard to customary rules, issue orders without regard to prescribed procedures."

Chapter 12: Attack By Fire

"Therefore, to win battles and make conquests and to take over all the subjects, but failing to rebuild or restore the welfare of what one gained would be a bad omen..."


"Do not use your troops unless you can win. Do not fight unless you are in danger. No ruler should put troops into the field because he is angry; no general should fight because he is resentful."


"... an angry man can later become happy, a resentful man become pleased, but a kingdom once destroyed can never be restored nor the dead be brought back to life."

Chapter 13: Espionage

"The enlightened ruler and the wise general can subdue the enemy whenever they move and they can achieve superhuman feats because they have foreknowledge."


"Only the one who is wise and sagely, benevolent and just, can use secret agents. Only he who is sensitive and subtle can get the truth of their reports."


"It is important to find out who are those sent by the enemy to spy on you..."


"Espionage is vital in war because the army's ability to make the correct moves depends on it."