― SUN TZU, THE ART OF WAR

• 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.

• 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 a...

• 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.

• 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 l...

• 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.

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.