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

“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.”

“The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.”

“These are: The Moral Law; Heaven; Earth; The Commander; Method and discipline.”

“The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors,”

“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.”

“Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.”

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

“The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle—you never come to an end. Who can exhaust the possibilities of their combination?”

“In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack—the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of manœuvers.”

“There are not more than five cardinal tastes (sour, acrid, salt, sweet, bitter), yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.”