The Art of War by Sun-Tzu

[Lecter]

Those whose upper and
lower ranks have the same desire
are victorious.

Chapter 3, "Planning the Attack"
Ancient Military Strategy for Modern Buisness

[Lecter]

Compare where you are sufficient
with where the enemy is sufficient.
Compare where you are lacking with
where the enemy is lacking.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

Deception is for the purpose
of seeking victory over an enemy;
To command a group
requires truthfulness.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Command is a matter of wisdom.
Integrity, humanity, courage,
and discipline.

Chapter 1: "On Assessment"

[Lecter]

Once your basic mind is settled,
you should just tune it and order it,
making it calm and stable,
undisturbed by events,
not deluded by prospects of gain.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Also, if a general lacks planning ability to
access the officers and place them in positions
where they can use the best of their abilities,
instead assigning them automatically and
thus not making full use of their talents,
then the army will become hesitant.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

If feelings of appreciation and trust
are not established in prople's minds
from the beginning,
they will not form this bond.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

What is best is a quick victory
and a speedy return.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

Invincibility is a matter of
self-defense: Vulnerability is
simply a matter of having gaps.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Even if you know the configuration of
the land, if your mind is inflexible, you
will not only fail to take advantage of
the ground but may even be harmed by it.
It is important for Generals to adapt in
appropriate ways.

Chapter 8: "Adaptations"

[Lecter]

Intersecting ground means the intersections
of main arteries linking together numerous
highway systems: First occupy this ground,
and the people will have to go with you.
So if you get it, you are secure; if you lose it,
you are in peril.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

Determining changes as appropriate,
do not repeat former strategies
to gain victory.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

Act after having made assessments.
The one who first knows
the measures of far and near wins—
this is the rule of armed struggle.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Force means shifts in accumulated energy
or momentum. Skillful warriors are able
to allow the force of momentum to seize
victory for them without exerting their
strength.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

If you carry on alliances
with strong countries,
your enemies won't dare
to plot against you.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Consistent means all along: In ordinary times, it is
imperative that benevolence and trustworthiness
along with dignity and order be manifest to people
from the start, so that later, if they are faced with
enemies, it is possible to meet the situation in an
orderly fashion, with the full trust and acceptance
of the people.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

To advance irresistibly,
push through their gaps,
to retreat elusively, outspeed them.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

If the people are treated with
benevolence, faithfulness and justice,
then they will be of one mind,
and will be glad to serve.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Therefore, the considerations of the
intelligent always include both benefit
and harm. As they consider benefit, their
work can expand; as they consider harm,
their troubles can be resolved.

Chapter 8: "Adaptations"

[Lecter]

The brave act quickly, while the timid
drag their feet. When opponents see you
are not moving ahead, they will assume
you are timid, and will take you lightly.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

The ground means the location, the place of
pitched battle—gain the advantage and you live,
lose the advantage and you die. Therefore,
military action is called the ground of life and
death. The path means the way to adjust to the
situation and establish victory—find this and
you survive. Lose this and you perish. Therefore,
it is said to be imperative to examine it.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Assess the advantages in taking advice,
then structure your forces accordingly,
to supplement extraordinary tactics.
Forces are to be structured strategically,
based on what is advantageous.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Give out rewards that are not
in the rules, give out directives
that are not in the code.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

If your forces are orderly while theirs
are chaotic, if you are excited and they
are sluggish, then even if they are more
numerous, you can do battle.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

The first to move is the guest,
the last to move is the host.
The guest has it hard,
the host has it easy.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Do not figure on opponents not attacking;
worry about your own lack of preparation.
When you can attack anywhere and defend
everywhere, your military strategy is complete.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

The victory that can be known is up to
you, meaning that you are prepared. The
victory that cannot be manufactured is
up to the opponent, meaning that the
opponent has no form.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

First establish your plans,
then prepare your equipment.
This is why the chapter on battle
follows the chapter
on strategic assessments.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

To fight with people
face to face over advantages
is the hardest thing in the world.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Therefore, one who is good at martial arts
overcomes others' forces without battle,
conquers others' cities without siege...
without taking a long time.

Chapter 3, "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

So what enables an intelligent
government and a wise military
leadership to overcome others and
achieve extraordinary
accomplishments is foreknowledge.

Chapter 13: "On the Use of Spies"

[Lecter]

Victory in war is apparent to all,
but the science of ensuring victory is
a mysterious secret, generally unknown.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

The power of those who are united is
whole, while the power of those who
are divided is reduced. By striking
diminished power with whole power,
it is possible always to win.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

If the General lacks authority,
the army is disorderly.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

Opponents cannot exhaust you.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

The individualist without strategy
who takes opponents lightly
will inevitably become
the captive of others.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

Heaven and Earth mean movement and
stillness. Rivers represent a ceaseless flux.
The changes of unorthodox surprise
movements are like the ceaseless changes
of the weather cycle.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

So among military forces there are those
who rush, those who tarry, those who
fall, those who crumble, those who riot,
and those who get beaten. These are not
natural disasters, but the faults of
the Generals.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

...It is necessary to delegate unbridled
authority, so it is imperative that
officers who are to be Generals be
both loyal and talented.

Chapter 3, "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

You see the inner conditions of
opponents by means of their external
formations. The inner condition of the
formless is inscrutable, whereas that of
those who have adopted a specific form
is obvious. The inscrutable win,
the obvious lose.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

These are ways to certain defeat. First is not
assessing numbers. Second is lack of a
clear system of punishments and rewards.
Third is failure in training. Fourth is
irrational overexcitement. Fifth is
ineffectiveness of law and order. And sixth is
failure to choose the strong and resolute.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

For the impact of armed forces
to be like stones thrown on eggs is
a matter of emptiness and fullness.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

What everyone knows is not called wisdom,
victory over others by forced battle is
not considered good.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

According to my assessment,
even if you have many more troops
than others, how can that
help you to victory?

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

Generally speaking, the entire military leadership
has to be of one mind, all of the military forces
have to cooperate, in order to be able
to defeat opponents.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

To plunder a locality, divide up your troops.
To expand your territory, divide the spoils.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

If you know yourself but not the other,
or if you know the other but not
yourself, in either case you cannot be sure
of victory.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

The farsighted ruler thinks the situation
through carefully; the good commander
exploits it fully. If there is no advantage,
do not move into action; if there is no gain,
do not deploy the troops; if it is not critical,
do not send them into battle.

Chapter 12, "The Incendiary Attack"

[Lecter]

Where goods are expensive,
you exhaust your resources.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

The side that fields a fully prepared army
against one that is not
will take the victory.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

The expert at battle seeks his victory from
strategic advantage and does not
demand it from his men. He thus is
able to select the right men and exploit
the strategic advantage.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

The way means humaneness and justice.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

So when the front is prepared, the rear is
lacking, and when the rear is prepared,
the front is lacking. Preparedness on the
left means lack on the right, preparedness
on the right means lack on the left.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

So the rule for military operations
is not to face a high hill
and not to oppose those
with their backs to a hill.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

On the other hand, if the enemy behaves like a
mob, giving chase in total confusion and
greedily trying to plunder, you can be sure
that the directives of the Generals are not
carried out, so you can attack them without
hesitation.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

Making the armies able to take on
opponents without being defeated
is a matter of unorthodox
and orthodox methods.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

Defense is for times of insufficiency,
attack is for times of surplus.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Advantage in a military operation is
getting help from the land.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

Those who have equal momentum, but strike ten
with one are in a rush. Those whose soldiers
are strong but whose officers are weak tarry.
Those whose officers are are strong but whose
soldiers are weak fall.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

It does not take much strength
to lift a hair, it does not take
sharp eyes to see the sun and moon,
it does not take sharp ears
to hear a thunderclap.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Assessments should be made at headquarters—this
is because it is imperative first to assess the wisdom
of the leaders, the strength of the opponent,
the lay of the land, and the number of troops;
then when the two armies confront one another,
the adaptations to be made are determined by the
leadership in a manner consistent with these
calculations.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

The lives of the people and the order
of the nation are in the charge of
the Generals. The difficulty of finding
good leadership material
is a perennial problem.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

When your forces are said to be
five times those of the enemy,
this just means you have extra power.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Those who are called the good militarists of old
could make opponents lose contact between
front and back lines, lose reliability between
large and small ground, lose mutual concern
for the welfare of the different social classes
among them, lose mutual accommodation
between the rulers and the ruled, lose
enlistments among the soldiers, lose coherence
within the the armies. They went into action when it
was advantageous, stopped when it was not.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

Even if you prevail over others in battle, if you
go on too long, there will be no profit. In
military operations, total victory is important;
if you dull your forces and blunt your edge,
sustaining casualties and battle fatigue,
then you will be exhausted.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

Standing your ground
awaiting those far away,
awaiting the weary in comfort,
awaiting the hungry with full stomachs,
is mastering strength.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

To divulge means means to leak out. The military
has no constant form, just as water has
no constant shape—adapt as you face
the enemy, without letting them know
beforehand what you are going to do.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Struggle is pursuit of advantage;
once emptiness and fullness are
determined, one may struggle
with others for advantage.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

When it comes to establishing
rules and regulations,
everyone, high and low,
should be treated alike.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

People having no choice is a metaphor
for the ease with which
they can be directed.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

While giving the appearance of being
far away, you step up your pace
and get there before the opponent.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Warriors exert their full strength.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

Humaneness and justice are the means by
which to govern properly. When
government is carried out properly,
people feel close to the leadership and
think little of dying for it.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Therefore, when you induce others
to construct a formation
while you yourself are formless,
then you are concentrated
while the opponent is divided.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

If you presume on the orderliness of
government and fail to provide
for the comfort of the governed,
thus creating much resentment,
disorder is certain to arise.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

Hide your form, be orderly within,
and watch for gaps and slack.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

When the enemy is near but still,
he is resting on a natural stronghold.
When he is far away
but tries to provoke hostilities,
he wants you to move forward.
If his position is accessible, it is
because that is advantageous to him.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

Order and disorder are changes in
organization. Organization means
methodical regulation. Courage and
cowardice are a matter of momentum
or force. Strength and weakness
are change in formation.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

Various people have different explanations of
what is orthodox and what is unorthodox.
Orthodoxy and unorthodoxy are not fixed,
but are like a cycle.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

This means being so subtle as to be imperceptible,
and to be able to change suddenly
like a mysterious spirit.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

Since you adapt and adjust appropriately
in the face of the enemy,
how could you say what you are
going to do beforehand?

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Greed for what can be gained means taking any
shortcut, attacking any isolated army...if you
are greedy for what you can get from these
things and do not know how to adapt to
changes...not only will you be unable to get
people to work, you will destroy the army
and wound the soldiers.

Chapter 8: "Adaptations"

[Lecter]

If there is one person in ten with courage,
even though the other nine
are timid and cowardly,
depending on the bravery of
that one man, they can still be secure.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

If you reward everyone,
there will not be enough to go around,
so you offer a reward to one
in order to encourage everyone.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

Therefore, if the smaller side is stubborn,
it becomes the captive of the larger side.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Consolidate your keenest energy, save up
your extra strength, keep your form
concealed and your plans secret,
being unfathomable to enemies,
waiting for a vulnerable gap
to advance upon.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

Adaptation means not clinging to fixed
methods, but changing appropriately
according to events, acting as is suitable.

Chapter 8: "Adaptations"

[Lecter]

Struggle means struggle for advantage;
those who get the advantages are
thereby victorious.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

The ancient philosopher Master Guan said,
"Go forth armed without determining
strategy, and you will destroy yourself
in battle."

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

Sun and moon travel through the sky, they set
and rise again. The four seasons succeed one
another, flourishing and then fading again.
This is a metaphor for the interchange of
surprise unorthodox movements and
orthodox direct confrontation, mixing together
into a whole, ending and beginning infinitely.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

People are irritable
when they are fatigued.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

Do something for or against them,
making opponents turn their attention to it,
so that you can find out their patterns
of aggressive and defensive behavior.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

Take care of physical health and stay
where there are plenty of resources.
When there is no sickness in the army,
it is said to be invincible.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

In ancient times, skillful warriors first
made themselves invincible, and then
watched for vulnerability in their
opponents.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

So when opponents are at ease, it is
possible to tire them. When they are well fed,
it is possible to starve them. When they
are at rest, it is possible to move them.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

If you calculate your power to be less
than that of the opponent,
then strengthen your defense,
do not go out and get your edge snapped.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Complete means having both ability and
intelligence. When a country has Generals
that are thoroughly able and intelligent,
then that country is safe and strong.
This means that Generals have to be completely
capable and completely knowledgeable
in all operations.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

To unify people's ears and eyes means to
make people look and listen in concert
so that they do not become confused
and disorderly. Signals are used to
indicate directions and prevent
individuals from going off by themselves.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of
formlessness. Be extremely mysterious,
even to the point of soundlessness.
Thereby you can be the director
of the opponent's fate.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

When there are murmurings,
lapses in duties,
and extended conversations,
the loyalty of the group has been lost.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

On intersecting ground,
if you establish alliances,
you are safe;
if you lose alliances, you are in peril.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

The difficulty of armed struggle
is to make long distances near
and make problems into advantages.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

He who knows the enemy and himself
will never in a hundred battles be at risk;
He who does not know the enemy but knows himself
will sometimes win and sometimes lose;
He who knows neither the enemy nor himself
will be at risk in every battle.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

This means guiding them
by instruction and direction.
Danger means distrust.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Regulation entails
organizational effectiveness,
a chain of command, and
a structure for logistical support.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Governing a large number
as though governing a small number is
a matter of division into groups.
Battling a large number
as though battling a small number is
a matter of forms and calls.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

It is best to thwart people
by intelligent planning.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

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.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

Reliance on intelligence alone results in
rebelliousness. Exercise of humaneness alone
results in weakness. Fixation on trust results
in folly. Dependence on strength and courage
results in violence. When one has all five
virtues together, each appropriate to its
function, then one can be a military leader.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

You conceal your strategy
in order to be able to exert
this much energy all at once.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

In battle, confrontation is done directly,
victory is gained by surprise.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

According to the rule for military
operations, there are nine kinds of ground.
Where local interests fight among
themselves on their own territory, this
is called the ground of dissolution.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

If people know they will be richly rewarded
if they overcome the opponent,
then they will gladly go into battle.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

The way of the ancient Kings was
to consider humaneness foremost,
while martial artists considered
intelligence foremost.
This is because intelligence involves
the ability to plan and to know
when to change effectively.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

So if you do not know
the plans of your competitors,
you cannot make informed alliances.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

If you are inconsistent in your feelings,
you will lose dignity and trust.

Chapter 12, "The Incendiary Attack"

[Lecter]

Therefore, measure in terms of five things,
use these assessments to make comparisons,
and thus find out what the conditions are.
The five things are the way, the weather,
the terrain, the leadership, and discipline.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Best of all is when your troops are held in
such awe that everyone comes to surrender.
This is preferable to winning by
trickery, violence and slaughter.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Whenever you are going to attack and
fight, first you have to know the talents
of the people employed by the opponent,
so you can deal with them according to
their abilities.

Chapter 13: "On the Use of Spies"

[Lecter]

Human psychology is to
go for perceived benefits and
try to avoid prospective harm.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

First you must be capable of firmness in your
own heart—only then can you take away the
heart of the opposing Generals. That is why
tradition says that people of former times had
the heart to take away hearts, and the ancient
law says that when the basic mind is firm,
fresh energy is victorious.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

It is easy to get people to act by means of
force of momentum, whereas it is hard
to demand power in individual people.
The able have to choose the right people
and also let the force of momentum do
its work.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

Rewards should not be used alone,
punishments should not be relied on in
isolation. Otherwise, like spoiled children,
people will become accustomed to either
enjoying or resenting everything. This is
harmful and renders them useless.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

The way means inducing the people to have
the same aim as the leadership, so that
they will share death and share life,
without fear of danger.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

So in the case of those who are skilled in
attack, their opponents do not know
where to defend. In the case of those
skilled in defense, their opponents do
not know where to attack.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

Using order to deal with the disorderly,
using calm to deal with the clamorous,
is mastering the heart.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

When the army troops are in doubt about
their responsibilities and confused
about what to do, then competitors will
take advantage of this disorganized
condition and cause trouble.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

It is not advantageous to attack
an enemy on a ground of contention;
what is advantageous is to get there first.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

So morning energy is keen,
midday energy slumps,
evening energy recedes.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

A military leader of wisdom and ability
lays deep plans for what other people do
not figure on.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Good Generals...act in accord with events, not
quick to anger, not subject to embarrassment.
When they see possibility, they are like tigers,
otherwise they shut their doors. Their action
and inaction are matters of strategy, and they
cannot be pleased or angered.

Chapter 8: "Adaptations"

[Lecter]

Generals are assistants of the nation.
When their assistance is complete,
the country is strong.
When their assistance is defective,
the country is weak.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

If you lash out in personal rage,
threatening neighbors with violence,
then in the end you bring destruction
on yourself.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

Therefore, the expert in using the military
subdues the enemy's forces without
going to battle, takes the enemy's walled
cities without launching an attack,
and crushes the enemy's state without
a protracted war.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

By "strategic advance," I mean making
the most of favorable conditions
and tilting the scales in our favor.

Chapter 1: "On Assessment"

[Lecter]

To be victorious in battle and win the spoils,
and yet fail to exploit your achievement,
is disastrous. The name for it
is wasting resources.

Chapter 12, "The Incendiary Attack"

[Lecter]

Therefore, the business of waging war
lies in carefully studying the designs
of the enemy.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

In war, it is not numbers
that give the advantage.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

Thus, in war, I have heard tell
of a foolish haste, but I have yet to see
a case of cleverly dragging on
the hostilities.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

If you do not advance recklessly, and are
able to consolidate your own strength,
get a clear picture of the enemy's situation,
and secure full support of your men,
it is enough.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

If you use the enemy to defeat the enemy,
you will be strong wherever you go.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

What is orthodox for you,
cause opponents to see as unorthodox;
what is unorthodox for you,
cause opponents to see as orthodox.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

Hard to know as the dark means
being unobtrusive and inscrutable.
Moving like thunder means
being so fast no one
can get out of your way.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Much strategy prevails over little strategy,
so those with no strategy cannot but be
defeated. Therefore, it is said that
victorious warriors win first and then
go to war, while defeated warriors
go to war first and then seek to win.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Some may be clumsy in attack, but they get
the upper hand through extraordinary
swiftness, because they are not subject to
the problems of wearing out their forces
and using up their resources.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

When directives are
consistently carried out,
there is mutual satisfaction
between the leadership and
the group.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

Those whose upper and lower ranks have
the same desire are victorious.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Preparedness everywhere
means lack everywhere.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

As a rule, in military operations you need to
change tactics a hundred times at every pace,
proceeding when you see you can. Falling back
when you know there is an impasse. To talk
about government orders for all this is like
going to announce to your superiors that you
want to put out a fire—by the time you get back
with an order, there is nothing left but ashes.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Therefore, those skilled at the unorthodox
are infinite as heaven and earth,
inexhaustible as the great rivers. When
they come to an end, they begin again,
like the days and months; they die and
are reborn.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

It may be asked, when a large,
well-organized opponent is about to
come to you, how do you deal with it?
The answer is that you first take
away what they like,
and then they will
listen to you.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

Do not press a desperate enemy.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Whatever formations opponents may adopt,
from the beginning I can adapt to them
to attain victory.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

When the Generals are weak and lack
authority, instructions are not clear,
officers and soldiers lack consistency,
and they form battle lines every which
way, this is riot.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

The question regarding political leadership is,
who is able to win the hearts of the people.

Chapter 1: "On Assessment"

[Lecter]

Land that would be advantageous to you
if you got it and to opponents if they
got it is called ground of contention.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

See who is able to make rules clear
and commands easy to follow,
so that people listen and obey.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

When there are underlying feelings of
appreciation and trust, and the hearts of
the soldiers are already bonded to the
leadership, if punishments are relaxed,
the soldiers will become haughty and
impossible to employ.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

When the Generals are haughty and
the soldiers are lazy, in their greed for
gain they forget that there may be
an unexpected turn of events—this is
the greatest disadvantage.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

Invincibility is in oneself,
vulnerability is in the opponent.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Glean from rich fields, and the armies will
have enough to eat. Take care of your
health and avoid stress, consolidate
your energy and build up your strength.
Maneuver your troops and assess strategies
so as to be unfathomable.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

Fool opponents into taking it easy,
then make haste.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Transportation of provisions itself
consumes twenty times
the amount transported.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

Avoiding confrontation with orderly ranks
and not attacking great formation
is mastering adaptations.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

When superior and subordinate are
in harmony, equally brave in battle,
that makes for strength.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

When the Generals cannot assess
opponents, clash with much greater
numbers or more powerful forces,
and do not sort out the levels of skill
among their own troops, these are
the ones who get beaten.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

Therefore, those who win every battle are
not really skillful—those who render
others' armies helpless without fighting
are the best of all.

Chapter 3, "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Victory can be discerned to the extent
that you see a set formation;
but to the extent that the enemy
has preparations, it cannot be
manufactured.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Advantage in a military operation is
getting help from the land.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

Harry and confuse enemies so that
they divide their troops in fear,
trying to cover themselves
on all sides.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

If opponents have no formation to find out,
no gap or slack to take advantage of,
how can you overcome them
even if you are well equipped?

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Don't go into another's territory
at an unfavorable time.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

The rule for delegation of responsibility is to
use greed, use folly, use intelligence, and use
bravery, allowing for the natural force of
each one, not blaming people for what they
are incapable of, but choosing appropriate
responsibilities for them according to their
respective capacities.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

Those who come seeking peace
without a treaty are plotting.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

Being on surrounded ground means there is
steep terrain on all sides, with you in the
middle, so the enemy can come and go freely
but you have a hard time getting out and back.
When you are on ground like this, you should
set up special plans ahead of time to prevent
the enemy from bothering you, thus balancing
out the disadvantage of the ground.

Chapter 8: "Adaptations"

[Lecter]

A General, with only one body and one
heart, leads a million troops to face
fierce enemies—gain and loss, victory and
defeat, are intermixed; strategy and
intelligence change ten thousand times—
and this is placed in the General's chest.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Ask yourself which political leadership—
your own or that of your enemy—
is able to reject flatterers
and draw close to the wise.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Even if opponents are numerous,
they can be made not to fight.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

When the Generals are completely
thorough, their plans do not leak out.
If they are defective, their formations
are revealed outside.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

When you do battle, even if you are winning,
if you continue for a long time, it will dull
your forces and blunt your edge; if you besiege
a citadel, your strength will be exhausted.
If you keep your armies out in the field for a
long time, your supplies will be insufficient.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

In military operations, what is valued is foiling
the opponent's strategy, not pitched battle.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Thus one advances without seeking glory,
retreats without avoiding blame, only
protecting people, to the benefit of the
government as well, thus rendering
valuable service to the nation.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

Adaptation means things like
avoiding a convenient route when
it is realized that it has features
that lend themselves to ambush.

Chapter 8: "Adaptations"

[Lecter]

When your form is concealed, the enemy is
in doubt, and so divides up his company
to be on guard against you. This means
that enemy groups are small and easy
to hit.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

Therefore, I have heard of military
operations that were clumsy but swift,
but I have never seen one that was
skillful and lasted a long time.
It is never beneficial to a nation
to have a military operation continue
for a long time.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

Some terrain is easily passable,
in some you get hung up,
some makes for a standoff,
some is narrow, some is steep,
some is wide open.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

When trouble is solved before it forms,
who calls that clever?
When there is victory without battle,
who talks about bravery?

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

When they are fulfilled,
be prepared against them;
When they are strong, avoid them.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Therefore, if you do not compete for alliances
anywhere, do not foster authority anywhere,
but just extend your personal influence,
threatening opponents, this makes town
and country vulnerable.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

Therefore, you make their route a long
one, luring them on in hopes of gain,
when you set out after others and arrive
before them, you know the strategy of
making the distance near.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

When you calculate and compare the strength
of your forces and those of your opponent,
take into account the talent, intelligence,
and courage of the Generals—if you are ten
times stronger than the enemy, this is ten to
one, and you can surround them, foiling any
attempts to get away.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

In military matters, it is not necessarily
beneficial to have more strength, only to
avoid acting aggressively; it is enough to
consolidate your power, assess opponents,
and get people, that is all.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

The strength or weakness of a country depends
on its Generals. If the Generals are thoroughly
capable, then the country will be strong.
If the Generals do not help the leadership,
and harbor duplicity in their hearts, then the
country will be weak. Therefore, it is imperative
to be careful in choosing people for
positions of responsibility.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Five things are to be assessed—the way, the
weather, the lay of the land, the leadership,
and discipline. These are to be assessed at
headquarters—first assess yourself and your
opponent in terms of these five things, deciding
who is superior. Then you can determine who is
likely to prevail. Having determined this, only
then should you mobilize your forces.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Therefore, a victorious army first
wins and then seeks battle;
A defeated army first battles and
then seeks victory.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

If there are many roads in the area
and there is free travel that cannot be cut off,
this is what is called a trafficked ground.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

If you can change with the momentum of forces,
then the advantage does not change,
so the only ones who get hurt are others.
Therefore, there is no constant structure.
If you can fully comprehend this principle,
you can get people to work.

Chapter 8: "Adaptations"

[Lecter]

When a civilian leadership unaware of the facts
tells its armies to advance when it should
not, or tells its armies to retreat when it
should not, this is called tying up the armies.
When the civilian leadership is ignorant of
military affairs but shares equally in the
government of the armies, the soldiers
get confused.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

If a military operation goes on for a long
time without accomplishing anything,
your rivals will begin to get ideas.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

Therefore, those who know martial arts do
not wander when they move, and do not
become exhausted when they rise up. So it is
said that when you know yourself and others,
victory is not in danger; when you know the
sky and earth, victory is inexhaustible.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

To unfailingly take what you attack,
attack where there is no defense.
For unfailingly secure defense,
defend where there is no attack.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

If you do not compete for allies and
helpers, then you will be isolated, with
little help. If you do not foster your
authority, then people will leave and the
country will weaken.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

The most efficient of movements
is the one that is unexpected;
The best of plans
is the one that is unknown.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

A military force is established by deception in
the sense that you deceive enemies so that they
do not know your real condition, and then
can establish supremacy. It is mobilized by gain
in the sense that it goes into action when it
sees a disadvantage.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

When we are on the defensive, it is because there is
some lack in terms of a way to seize victory, so we
wait for what we need. When we are on the offensive,
it is because we already have more than enough of
what it takes to overcome an opponent. So we go
forth and strike. This means that we will not do
battle unless we are certain of complete victory,
we will not fight unless we are sure it is safe.
Some people think insufficiency means weakness and
surplus means strength, but this impression is wrong.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

A government should not mobilize an army out
of anger, military leaders should not provoke
war out of wrath. Act when it is beneficial, desist
if it is not. Anger can revert to joy, wrath can
revert to delight, but a nation destroyed cannot
be restored to existence, and the dead cannot be
restored to life. Therefore, an enlightened
government is careful about this, a good military
leadership is alert to this. This is the way to
secure a nation and keep the armed forces whole.

Chapter 12, "The Incendiary Attack"

[Lecter]

What everyone knows is what has already
happened or become obvious. What the aware
individual knows is what had not yet taken shape,
what has not yet occurred. Everyone says victory
in battle is good, but if you see the subtle
and notice the hidden so as to seize victory
where there is no form, this is really good.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Therefore, use these assessments for comparison, to
find out what the conditions are. That is to say,
which political leadership has the way? Which
General has ability? Who has the better climate
and terrain? Whose discipline is effective? Whose
troops are the stronger? Whose officers and
soldiers are the better trained? Whose system of
rewards and punishments is clearer? This is how
you can know who will win.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Therefore, the superior militarist strikes
while schemes are being laid.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

If you are quiet and inconspicuous,
others will not be able to figure
you out. If you are acute and orderly,
others will not be able to disturb you.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

If you employ soldiers without sorting out
the skilled and unskilled,
the brave and the timid,
you are bringing defeat on yourself.

Chapter 10, "The Terrain"

[Lecter]

Therefore, the victories of good warriors
are not noted for cleverness or bravery.
Therefore, their victories in battle are not
flukes. Their victories are not flukes
because they position themselves where they
will surely win, prevailing over those
who have already lost.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Roll rocks down a ten-thousand-foot
mountain, and they cannot be stopped—this is
because of the mountain, not the rocks.
Get people to fight with the courage to win
every time, and the strong and the weak unite—
this is because of the momentum, not the individuals.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

Some win through speed,
even if they are clumsy.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

On surrounded ground,
bring surprise tactics into play.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

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

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

If you have no ulterior scheme and no
forethought, but just rely on your
individual bravery, flippantly taking
opponents lightly and giving no
consideration to the situation,
you will surely be taken prisoner.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

When the army is old, the soldiers are lazy,
and the discipline and command
are not unified, this is an opponent
that has already lost.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

When your strategy is deep and far-reaching,
then what you gain by your calculations is
much, so you can win before you even fight.
When your strategic thinking is shallow and
near-sighted, then what you gain by your
calculations is little, so you lose before you
do battle.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

When they see an advantage
but do not advance on it,
they are weary.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

If your own army is
hesitant and confused,
you bring trouble on yourself,
as if you were to bring enemies
in to overcome you.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

Murmurings means people spitting out
their true feelings, lapses in duties means
negligence on the job; as for extended
conversations, why would the strong
fear the alienation of the group?

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

The ancient classic of documents says,
"The one who treats me well is my leader,
the one who treats me cruelly is my enemy."

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

Organization means that the troops must
be grouped in a regular manner.
Chain of Command means that there must
be officers to keep the troops together
and lead them. Logistics means overseeing
supplies.

Chapter 1: "On Assessment"

[Lecter]

If you are capable of
extraordinary adaptation,
you can travel this ground.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

So unless your heart is wide open and your
mind is orderly, you cannot be expected to
adapt responsively without limit, dealing with
events unerringly, facing great and unexpected
difficulties without upset, calmly handling
everything without confusion.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Therefore, what restrains competitors is harm,
what keeps competitors busy is work,
what motivates competitors is profit.

Chapter 8: "Adaptations"

[Lecter]

If the military leadership is wise,
the country is safe.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

There are only five notes in the musical scale, but
their variations are so many that they cannot all
be heard. There are only five basic colors, but
their variations are so many that they cannot all
be seen. There are only five basic flavors, but their
variations are so many that they cannot all be
tasted. There are only two kinds of charge in
battle, the unorthodox surprise attack and the
orthodox direct attack, but variations of the
orthodox and the unorthodox are endless.

Chapter 5: "Strategic Advance"

[Lecter]

When people deserve reward,
this should be duly noted
even if you personally detest them.
When people deserve punishment,
this should not be forgone
even if they are close to you.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

So it is that good warriors take
their stand on ground
where they cannot lose,
and do not overlook conditions that
make an opponent prone to defeat.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Energy is what battle depends on.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Therefore, those skilled in military
operations achieve cooperation in a group
so that directing the group is like
directing a single individual with
no other choice.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

Those skilled in military operations
are able to change their formations
in such a way as to ensure victory
based on the actions of opponents.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

No, this means that you have to know
competitors' plans before you can fight with them.
If you don't know their strategy,
you should certainly not do battle with them.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

Those who are first on the battlefield
and await the opponents are at ease;
those who are last on the battlefield
and head into battle get worn out.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"

[Lecter]

The army that finds its ground flourishes,
the army that loses its ground perishes,
here the ground means a place of
strategic importance.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

They wouldn't rush around for an ordinary
rendezvous—there must be a distant force
expected at a certain time, when they will
join forces to come and attack you. It is
best to prepare for this fight right away.

Chapter 9: "Maneuvering Armies"

[Lecter]

Without deception, you cannot carry out
strategy, without strategy you cannot
control the opponent.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

So an army perishes if it has no equipment,
it perishes if it has no food,
and it perishes if it has no money.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

To divulge something means to speak of it.
This means that all of the aforementioned
strategies for securing military victory can certainly
not be made uniform—first, see the enemy's formation,
and only then apply them. You cannot say
what you will do before the event.

Chapter 1 "On Assessments"

[Lecter]

When warriors are in great danger,
then they have no fear.
When there is nowhere to go,
they are firm; When they are
deeply involved, they stick to it.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

So what kills the enemy is anger,
what gets the enemy's goods is reward.

Chapter 2: "On Waging Battle"

[Lecter]

Employ the entire armed forces like
employing a single person. Employ them
with actual tasks, do not talk to them.
Motivate them with benefits, do not
tell them about harm.

Chapter 11: "The Nine Kinds of Terrain"

[Lecter]

Spies are useful everywhere.

Chapter 13: "On the Use of Spies"

[Lecter]

Those who face the unprepared
with preparation are victorious.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

A surrounded army
must be given a way out.

Chapter 7: "Armed Contest"

[Lecter]

If you do not plan first,
hoping to reply on your strength,
your victory is uncertain.

Chapter 4: "Formation"

[Lecter]

Now if there is division among the ranks of the
enemy, so that there is no coherent chain of
command, then they will fall apart by themselves,
even if you do not surround them.
If you do surround them under such
circumstances, needless to say
they will be annihilated.

Chapter 3: "Planning the Attack"

[Lecter]

It is easy to take over from those
who have not thought ahead.

Chapter 6: "Emptiness and Fullness"