Daily archive

“If, in the midst of difficulties, we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.”

“In the wise leader's plans, considerations of advantage and of disadvantage will be blended together.”

“The student of war who is unversed in the art of varying his plans, even though acquainted with the Five Advantages, will fail to make the best use of his men.”

“The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.”

“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.”

“When in difficult country, do not encamp. In hemmed-in situations, you must resort to stratagem. In a desperate position, you must fight.”

“In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign, collects his army and concentrates his forces.”

“When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.”

“Do not swallow a bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.”

“It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.”

“To be near the goal while the enemy is still far, to wait at ease while the enemy is toiling: this is the art of husbanding one's strength.”

“A clever general avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish.”

“A soldier's spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it has begun to flag; in the evening, his mind is bent only on returning to camp.”

“A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind.”

“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.”

“He will conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation. Such is the art of manœuvring.”

“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”

“When you capture new territory, cut it up into allotments for the benefit of the soldiery.”

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

“In raiding, be like fire; in immovability, like a mountain.”

“Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the forest.”

“In war, practise dissimulation, and you will succeed. Move only if there is a real advantage to be gained.”

“We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides.”

“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.”

“An army without its baggage-train is lost; without provisions it is lost; without bases of supply it is lost.”

“If you order forced marches without halting, covering double the distance, the leaders of all your divisions will fall into the enemy's hands.”

“Manœuvring with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.”

“To take a long and circuitous route, after enticing the enemy out of the way, and though starting after him, to contrive to reach the goal before him, shows knowledge of the artifice of deviation.”

“After collecting an army, comes tactical manoeuvring, than which there is nothing more difficult. The difficulty consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.”

“The five elements are not always equally predominant; the four seasons make way for each other in turn.”

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

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

“Military tactics are like unto water; water runs away from high places and hastens downwards. So in war, avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.”

“Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.”

“All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.”

“In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them; conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying of the subtlest spies.”

“Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.”

“Though the enemy be stronger in number, we may prevent him from fighting. Scheme to discover his plans and the likelihood of their success.”

“Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight.”

“If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.”

“The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will prepare against a possible attack at several points.”

“We can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up into fractions. Hence a whole pitted against parts, which means we shall be many to the enemy's few.”

“By discovering the enemy's dispositions and remaining invisible ourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated, while the enemy's must be divided.”

“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.”

“You may advance and be absolutely irresistible, if you make for the enemy's weak points; you may retire and be safe, if your movements are more rapid than those of the enemy.”

“O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands.”

“He is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; skilful in defence whose opponent does not know what to attack.”

“You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”

“An army may march great distances without distress, if it marches through country where the enemy is not.”

“Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.”

“If the enemy is taking his ease, he can be harassed; if well supplied, starved out; if quietly encamped, forced to move.”

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

“Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second will arrive exhausted.”

“The energy of good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height.”

“The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals.”

“One who is skilful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act.”

“Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.”

“Amid turmoil and tumult, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all.”

“Energy may be likened to the bending of a cross-bow; decision, to the releasing of the trigger.”

“The good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.”