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

“It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.”

“There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.”

“Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.”

“Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor damped, your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity.”

“Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain.”

“When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then mens weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be damped. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength.”

“Such is the cost of raising an army of 100,000 men.”

“..the expenditure at home and at the front, including entertainment of guests, small items such as glue and paint, and sums spent on chariots and armor, will reach the total of a thousand ounces of silver per day.”

“In the operations of war, where there are in the field a thousand swift chariots, as many heavy chariots, and a hundred thousand mail-clad soldiers, with provisions enough to carry them a thousand li..”

“Chapter 2. Waging War”

“The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all!”

“Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought.”

“These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.”

“Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”

“If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.”

“If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.”

“If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.”

“Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.”

“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.”

“All warfare is based on deception.”

“By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat.”

“In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?

“Which army is stronger? On which side are officers and men more highly trained?”

“Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law Which of the two generals has most ability? With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth? “On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?”

“These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.”

“The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage and strictness.”

“Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.”

“Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.”

“It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.”

“The art of war is of vital importance to the State.”