Read2Me - The Art of War Name and picture from twetch — not on-chain. The signature is; the profile is not.

“The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.”

Chapter 5. Energy

“The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep.”

“A victorious army opposed to a routed one, is as a pounds weight placed in the scale against a single grain.”

“Measurement owes its existence to Earth; Estimation of quantity to Measurement; Calculation to Estimation of quantity; Balancing of chances to Calculation; and Victory to Balancing of chances.”

“In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory.”

“The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.”

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

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

“Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.”

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

“To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence. To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength; to see the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight; to hear the noise of thunder is no sign of a quick ear”

“The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven.”

“Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.”

“Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive.”

“Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.”

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

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

“Chapter 4. Tactical Dispositions”

“If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

“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 victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.”

“He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.”

“He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.”

“He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.”

“He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.”

“Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”

“But when the army is restless and distrustful, trouble is sure to come from the other feudal princes. This is simply bringing anarchy into the army, and flinging victory away.”

“By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.”

“By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the soldiers minds.”

“By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army.”