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Spies are a most important element in water, because on them depends an army's ability to move.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Important
Elements
Depends
Move
Ability
Water
Spies
Moving
Spy
War
Element
Art
Army

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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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Should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.
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When the general is weak and without authority when his orders are not clear and distinct when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganization.
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If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if his orders are clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers.
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The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.
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Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.
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Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy forceful execution of even a poor plan can often bring victory.
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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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All warfare is based on deception. 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.
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When campaigning, be swift as the wind in leisurely march, majestic as the forest in raiding and plundering, like fire in standing, firm as the mountains. As unfathomable as the clouds, move like a thunderbolt.
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So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak. Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.
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In the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.
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When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.
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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.
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With regard to ground of this nature, be before the enemy in occupying the raised and sunny spots, and carefully guard your line of supplies. Then you will be able to fight with advantage.
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Therefore I say: know the enemy and know yourself in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.
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Know thy self, know thy enemy.
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Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety.
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Secret operations are essential in war upon them the army relies to make its every move.
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Maneuvering with an army is advantageous with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.
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