Quote

Should the enemy forestall you in occupying a pass, do not go after him if the pass is fully garrisoned, but only if it is weakly garrisoned.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
War
Art
Forestall
Weakly
Occupying
Fully
Pass
Enemy

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Be where your enemy is not.
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The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline thus it is in his power to control success.
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One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards is in deep distress. One who frequently imposes punishments is in great difficulty. One who is at first excessively brutal and then fears the masses is the pinnacle of stupidity.
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Without harmony in the State, no military expedition can be undertaken without harmony in the army, no battle array can be formed.
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A clever general... avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This is the art of studying moods. Disciplined and calm, he awaits the appearance of disorder and hubbub among the enemy. This is the art of retaining self-possession.
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Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.
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Those skilled in attack move as from above the nine-fold heavens. Thus they are capable both of protecting themselves and of gaining complete victory.
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It is imperative to contest all factions for complete victory, so the army is not garrisoned and the profit can be total. This is the law of strategic siege.
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Fierce language and pretentious advances are signs that the enemy is about to retreat.
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Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.
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In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. 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 maneuvers.
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The one who figures on victory at headquarters before even doing battle is the one who has the most strategic factors on his side.
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Factors in the art of warfare are: First, calculations second, quantities third, logistics fourth, the balance of power and fifth, the possibility of victory is based on the balance of power.
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If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.
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All warfare is based on deception. There is no place where espionage is not used. Offer the enemy bait to lure him.
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If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need to do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way.
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Appraise war in terms of the fundamental factors. The first of these factors is moral influence.
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It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy upright and just, and thus maintain order.
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Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is master of his enemy's fate.
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When you shoot a bow and arrow, you aim at the clouds, not because you expect to hit them, but so that you may reach the distant target on the ground.
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