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In warfare, first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute strength alone, victory will no longer be assured.

Sun Tzu

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Sun Tzu
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Strategist
Writer
Kingdom of Qi
Sun Wu
Sun Zi
Changqing
Firsts
Victory
Brute
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Begin
Brutes
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Ensure
Battle
Assured
Plans
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Army
Stratagem

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Generally, management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization. And to control many is the same as to control few. This is a matter of formations and signals.
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The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.
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We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors. We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country.
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If you are situated at a great distance from the enemy, and the strength of the two armies is equal, it is not easy to provoke a battle, and fighting will be to your disadvantage.
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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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The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.
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One who sets the entire army in motion to chase an advantage will not attain it.
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When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is insubordination. When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is collapse.
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In the tumult and uproar, the battle seems chaotic, but there is no disorder, the troops appear to be milling about in circles but cannot be defeated.
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Move not unless you see an advantage use not your troops unless there is something to be gained fight not unless the position is critical.
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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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To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape.
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It is through the dispositions of an army that its condition may be discovered. Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain secret, which leads to victory, show your dispositions, and your condition will become patent, which leads to defeat.
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We may distinguish six kinds of terrain, to wit: (1) Accessible ground (2) entangling ground (3) temporising ground (4) narrow passes (5) precipitous heights (6) positions at a great distance from the enemy.
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The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy
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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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Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise, for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.
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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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Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt if you now Heaven and you know Earth, you may make your victory complete.
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