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When the higher officers are angry and insubordinate, and on meeting the enemy give battle on their own account from a feeling of resentment, before the commander-in-chief can tell whether or not he is in a position to fight, the result is ruin.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
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Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.
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On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough hence the institution of gongs and drums... banners and flags. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular point.
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The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.
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There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.
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Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man.
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War is a matter of vital importance to the state the province of life or death the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied.
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Probe him and learn where his strength is abundant and where deficient.
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Spies are a most important element in water, because on them depends an army's ability to move.
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The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch'ang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.
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Quickness is the essence of the war.
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The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.
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Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy... use the conquered foe to augment one's own strength.
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You cannot know if you will be successful or not. You can only prepare for battle and it must be done with all of your heart and with all of your consciousness. In that manner, you will have an edge.
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However desperate the situation and circumstances, don't despair. When there is everything to fear, be unafraid. When surrounded by dangers, fear none of them. When without resources, depend on resourcefulness. When surprised, take the enemy by surprise.
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According to my assessment, even if you have many more troops than others, how can that help you to victory?
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Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory.
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If an enemy has alliances, the problem is grave and the enemy's position strong if he has no alliances, the problem is minor and the enemy's position weak.
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There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefitted.
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Be where your enemy is not.
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To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
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