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Summary
It's a book of conflict knowledge and tactics revolving around several key concepts, including:
- Knowing when to fight and when not to fight.
- Knowing how to mislead the enemy.
- Knowing oneself and one's enemy.
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If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected .”
― SUN TZU, THE ART OF WAR
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Maneuvering
- Strike a balance between confusing the enemy and teaching troops to obey seemingly futile commands.
- Arrive on the battlefield early and organized.
- Actions should be clear and coordinated.
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“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
― SUN TZU, THE ART OF WAR
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5 Essential Elements of War
- The Moral Law- causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger
- Heaven- signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
- Earth- comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
- The Commander- stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.
- Method and discipline
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Terrain
- Physical terrain and psychological terrain are equally important.
- Poor leadership cannot make up for well-trained troops; well-trained troops cannot make up for poor leadership.
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“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
― SUN TZU, THE ART OF WAR
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5 Essentials for Victory:
- The leader has full awareness of themself, troops, and the opposition.
- The leader knows how to use small or large forces.
- The leader knows how to unify the ranks with a common purpose.
- The leader knows how to be patient while the opposition is impatient.
- The leader's authority does not cloud judgment.
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“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear 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.”
― SUN TZU, THE ART OF WAR
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5 Dangerous Faults which may Affect a General:
- Recklessness, which leads to destruction;
- cowardice, which leads to capture;
- a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults;
- a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame;
- over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.
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“Deep knowledge is to be aware of disturbance before disturbance, to be aware of danger before danger, to be aware of destruction before destruction, to be aware of calamity before calamity. Strong action is training the body without being burdened by the body, exercising the mind without being used by the mind, working in the world without being affected by the world, carrying out tasks without being obstructed by tasks.”
― SUN TZU, THE ART OF WAR
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IDEAS CURATED BY
CURATOR'S NOTE
The Art of War is not really about war per se but about how to be wise when it comes to our daily life battles.
“
Curious about different takes? Check out our The Art of War Summary book page to explore multiple unique summaries written by Deepstash users.
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