The Art of War : Selected Passages

1.18. All warfare is based on deception

1.19. 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. 

1.24. Attack him where he is unprepared; appear where you are not expected. 

2.19. In war, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns. 

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

3.18. Hence the saying: 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 vistory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. 

4.1. The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. 

4.2. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. 

4.11. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. 

4.13. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated. 

4.14. Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.

4.15. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory. 

5.15. Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger. 

6.2. The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him. 

6.27. How victory may be produced for them out of the enemy's own tactics -- that is waht the multitude cannot comprehend. 

6.32. Just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. 

7.14. We shall be unable to turn natural advantage to account unless we make use of local guides. 

7.19. Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt. 

7.21. Ponder and deliberate before you make a move. 

7.29. A clever general, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This is the art of studying moods. 

7.30. Discplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorded and hubbub amongst the enemy -- this is the art of retaining self-possession. 

7.31. To be near the goal while the enemy is still far from it, to wait at ease while the enemy is toiling and struggling, to be well-fed while the enemy is famisehd -- this is the art of husbanding one's strength. 

7.32. To refrain from intercepting an enemy whose banners are in perfect order, to refrain from attacking an army drawn up in calm and confident array -- this is the art of studying circumstances.

8.12. There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: 

1) Recklenssness, which leads to destruction;

2) Cowardice, which leads to capture; 

3) Hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; 

4) Delicacy of honor, which is sensitive to shame; 

5) Over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and doubt. 

8.14. When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause will surely be found among these five dangerous faults. Let them be a subject of meditation. 

9.42. Soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline. This is a certain to victory. 

10.18. When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are not clear and distinct; when there are no fixes duties assigned to officers and men, and the ranks are formed in slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganisation. 

10.23. If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbids it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding. 

11.23. Throw your soldiers into position whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve. Officers and men alike will put forth their uttermost strength. 

11.29. The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the ChUng mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both. 





























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