Explore the World's Best Ideas
Join today and uncover 100+ curated journeys from 50+ topics. Unlock access to our mobile app with extensive features.
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.
118
1.8K reads
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
148
1.55K reads
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.
112
1.54K reads
“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
125
1.3K reads
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
117
1.18K reads
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.
119
1.15K reads
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
― SUN TZU, THE ART OF WAR
119
1.09K reads
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.
119
1K reads
“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
121
954 reads
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.
127
961 reads
“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
130
910 reads
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.
Cathy Carbellido's ideas are part of this journey:
Learn more about strategy with this collection
How to find common interests
How to be a good listener
How to overcome social anxiety
Related collections
Different Perspectives Curated by Others from The Art of War
Curious about different takes? Check out our book page to explore multiple unique summaries written by Deepstash curators:
2 ideas
1 idea
1 idea
Discover Key Ideas from Books on Similar Topics
Read & Learn
20x Faster
without
deepstash
with
deepstash
with
deepstash
Personalized microlearning
—
100+ Learning Journeys
—
Access to 200,000+ ideas
—
Access to the mobile app
—
Unlimited idea saving
—
—
Unlimited history
—
—
Unlimited listening to ideas
—
—
Downloading & offline access
—
—
Supercharge your mind with one idea per day
Enter your email and spend 1 minute every day to learn something new.
I agree to receive email updates