Sun Tzu
- The Art of War IV: Weak Points and Strong 7-8
7. You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold posi- tions that cannot be attacked. 8. Hence that general is skillful in attack whose oppo- nent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War IV: Weak Points and Strong 5-6
"Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected". "An army may march great distances without distress, if it marches through country where the enemy is not".
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War IV: Weak Points and Strong 3-4
3. By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or, by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near. 4. If the enemy is taking his ease, he can harass him; if well supplied with food, he can starve him out; if qui- etly encamped, he can force him to move.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War IV: Weak Points and Strong 1-2
1. Sun Tzu said: Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to bat- tle will arrive exhausted. 2. Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 23
23. Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject of energy.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 21-22
21. The clever combatant looks to the effect of com- bined energy, and does not require too much from indi- viduals. Hence his ability to pick out the right men and utilize combined energy. 22. When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motion- less on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round- shaped, to go rolling down.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 19-20
19. Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He sacrifices something, that the enemy may snatch at it. 20. By holding out baits, he keeps him on the march; then with a body of picked men he lies in wait for him.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 17-18
17. Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength. 18. Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is sim- ply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effect- ed by tactical dispositions.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 15-16
15. Energy may be likened to the bending of a cross-bow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger. 16. 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.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 13-14
13. The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its vic- tim. 14. Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 11-12
11. 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 com- bination? 12. The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along in its course.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 9-19
9. 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. 10. 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 maneu- vers.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 7-8
7. There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. 8. There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 5-6
5. In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. 6. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four seasons, they pass away to return once more.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy 3-4
3. To ensure that your whole host may withstand the brunt of the enemy's attack and remain unshaken-this is effected by maneuvers direct and indirect. 4. That the impact of your army may be like a grind- stone dashed against an egg-this is effected by the sci- ence of weak points and strong.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Energy
1. Sun Tzu said: The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers. 2. Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Tactical Dispositions 18-19
18. Measurement owes its existence to Earth; Estimation of quantity to Measurement; Calculation to Estimation of quantity; Balancing of chances to Calculation; and Victory to Balancing of chances. 19. A victorious army opposed to a routed one, is as a pound's weight placed in the scale against a single grain.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Tactical Dispositions 16-17
16. The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success. 17. In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation of quantity; third- ly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Tactical Dispositions 14-15
14. Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a posi- tion which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy. 15. 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.
Sun Tzu
- The Art of War: Tactical Dispositions 12-13
12. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage. 13. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.
