The Art of War
Sun Tzu
1,277 passages indexed from The Art of War (Sun Tzu) — Page 22 of 26
License: Public Domain
The Art of War, passage 1273
The above words only emphasize this point." Ho Shih believes then that the two heroes are mentioned on account of their supposed skill in the use of spies. But this is very weak.]
The Art of War, passage 963
But Li Ching embarked his army without loss of time, and was just about to start when the other generals implored him to postpone his departure until the river was in a less dangerous state for navigation. Li Ching replied: "To the soldier, overwhelming speed is of paramount importance, and he must never miss opportunities. Now is the time to strike, before Hsiao Hsien even knows that we have got an army together.
The Art of War, passage 1225
57); and by the wily Fan Chu in 260 B.C., when Lien P’o was conducting a defensive campaign against Ch’in. The King of Chao strongly disapproved of Lien P’o’s cautious and dilatory methods, which had been unable to avert a series of minor disasters, and therefore lent a ready ear to the reports of his spies, who had secretly gone over to the enemy and were already in Fan Chu’s pay. They said: "The only thing which causes Ch’in anxiety is lest Chao Kua should be made general.
The Art of War, passage 935
[Because the attempt would be futile, and would expose the blocking force itself to serious risks. There are two interpretations available here. I follow that of Chang Yu. The other is indicated in Ts’ao Kung’s brief note: "Draw closer together"—i.e., see that a portion of your own army is not cut off.]
The Art of War, passage 582
5. Manœuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.
The Art of War, passage 1019
Henderson’s remarks on Stonewall Jackson’s Valley campaign: "The infinite pains," he says, "with which Jackson sought to conceal, even from his most trusted staff officers, his movements, his intentions, and his thoughts, a commander less thorough would have pronounced useless"—etc. etc. [3] In the year 88 A.D., as we read in ch. 47 of the _Hou Han Shu_, "Pan Ch’ao took the field with 25,000 men from Khotan and other Central Asian states with the object of crushing Yarkand.
The Art of War, passage 82
It is noticeable that both Yeh Shui-hsin and Ch’en Chen-sun, while rejecting the personality of Sun Wu as he figures in Ssu-ma Ch’ien’s history, are inclined to accept the date traditionally assigned to the work which passes under his name. The author of the _Hsu Lu_ fails to appreciate this distinction, and consequently his bitter attack on Ch’en Chen-sun really misses its mark.
The Art of War, passage 976
By this time the Ch’u army, after repeating their challenge again and again, had marched away eastwards in disgust. The Ch’in general immediately broke up his camp and followed them, and in the battle that ensued they were routed with great slaughter. Shortly afterwards, the whole of Ch’u was conquered by Ch’in, and the king Fu-ch’u led into captivity.]
The Art of War, passage 896
This act of severity filled the army with wholesome awe, and from that time forth even articles dropped in the highway were not picked up.]
The Art of War, passage 552
26. How victory may be produced for them out of the enemy’s own tactics—that is what the multitude cannot comprehend.
The Art of War, passage 503
[Ts’ao Kung sums up very well: "Emerge from the void [q.d. like "a bolt from the blue"], strike at vulnerable points, shun places that are defended, attack in unexpected quarters."]
The Art of War, passage 1253
20. Whether the object be to crush an army, to storm a city, or to assassinate an individual, it is always necessary to begin by finding out the names of the attendants, the aides-de- camp,
The Art of War, passage 1013
34. Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.
The Art of War, passage 163
That is the natural law which governs his being…. What then shall be said of those scholars of our time, blind to all great issues, and without any appreciation of relative values, who can only bark out their stale formulas about "virtue" and "civilization," condemning the use of military weapons?
The Art of War, passage 464
[None of the commentators seem to grasp the real point of the simile of energy and the force stored up in the bent cross-bow until released by the finger on the trigger.]
The Art of War, passage 4
Preface to the Project Gutenberg Etext Preface by Lionel Giles INTRODUCTION Sun Wu and his Book The Text of Sun Tzŭ The Commentators Appreciations of Sun Tzŭ Apologies for War Bibliography Chapter I. Laying plans Chapter II. Waging War Chapter III. Attack by Stratagem Chapter IV. Tactical Dispositions Chapter V. Energy Chapter VI. Weak Points and Strong Chapter VII Manœuvring Chapter VIII. Variation of Tactics Chapter IX. The Army on the March Chapter X. Terrain Chapter XI. The Nine Situations Chapter XII. The Attack by Fire Chapter XIII. The Use of Spies
The Art of War, passage 104
Ho Lu died in 496, so that if the book was written for him, it must have been during the period 505-496, when there was a lull in the hostilities, Wu having presumably exhausted by its supreme effort against Ch’u. On the other hand, if we choose to disregard the tradition connecting Sun Wu’s name with Ho Lu, it might equally well have seen the light between 496 and 494, or possibly in the period 482-473, when Yüeh was once again becoming a very serious menace.
The Art of War, passage 1009
32. The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.
The Art of War, passage 960
Now Meng Ta had previously said in a letter to Chu-ko Liang: "Wan is 1200 _li_ from here. When the news of my revolt reaches Ssu-ma I, he will at once inform his imperial master, but it will be a whole month before any steps can be taken, and by that time my city will be well fortified.
The Art of War, passage 749
[Defined as "places covered with such dense undergrowth that spears cannot be used."]
The Art of War, passage 617
21. Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.
The Art of War, passage 337
4. The rule is, not to besiege walled cities if it can possibly be avoided.
The Art of War, passage 964
If we seize the present moment when the river is in flood, we shall appear before his capital with startling suddenness, like the thunder which is heard before you have time to stop your ears against it. [See VII. § 19, note.] This is the great principle in war. Even if he gets to know of our approach, he will have to levy his soldiers in such a hurry that they will not be fit to oppose us.
The Art of War, passage 568
[1] See Col. Henderson’s biography of Stonewall Jackson, 1902 ed., vol. II, p. 490.
The Art of War, passage 213
23. See infra, beginning of INTRODUCTION.
The Art of War, passage 860
13. These six are the principles connected with Earth.
The Art of War, passage 67
Pi I-hsun, the author of the _Sun Tzŭ Hsu Lu_, backs this up with a quotation from the _Wu Yüeh Ch’un Ch’iu:_ "The King of Wu summoned Sun Tzŭ, and asked him questions about the art of war. Each time he set forth a chapter of his work, the King could not find words enough to praise him." As he points out, if the whole work was expounded on the same scale as in the above-mentioned fragments, the total number of chapters could not fail to be considerable.
The Art of War, passage 1270
[There is less precision in the Chinese than I have thought it well to introduce into my translation, and the commentaries on the passage are by no means explicit. But, having regard to the context, we can hardly doubt that Sun Tzŭ is holding up I Chih and Lu Ya as illustrious examples of the converted spy, or something closely analogous.
The Art of War, passage 33
"I have carefully perused your 13 chapters. May I submit your theory of managing soldiers to a slight test?"
The Art of War, passage 282
[Less plausible is the interpretation favoured by most of the commentators: "If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them."]
The Art of War, passage 595
11. We may take it then that an army without its baggage-train is lost; without provisions it is lost; without bases of supply it is lost.
The Art of War, passage 1075
52. We cannot enter into alliance with neighbouring princes until we are acquainted with their designs. We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country—its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps. We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides.
The Art of War, passage 726
Do not move up-stream to meet the enemy.
The Art of War, passage 1093
[Literally, "do not tell them words;" i.e. do not give your reasons for any order. Lord Mansfield once told a junior colleague to "give no reasons" for his decisions, and the maxim is even more applicable to a general than to a judge.]
The Art of War, passage 373
through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.
The Art of War, passage 719
4. When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not advance to meet it in mid-stream. It will be best to let half the army get across, and then deliver your attack.
The Art of War, passage 12
Griffith and still in print) was published that was an equal to Giles’ translation. While this translation is more lucid than Dr. Giles’ translation, it lacks his copious notes that make his so interesting.
The Art of War, passage 558
30. So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.
The Art of War, passage 126
The copy which I have used belongs to a reissue dated 1877. It is in 6 _pen_, forming part of a well-printed set of 23 early philosophical works in 83 _pen_. [38] It opens with a preface by Sun Hsing-yen (largely quoted in this introduction), vindicating the traditional view of Sun Tzŭ’s life and performances, and summing up in remarkably concise fashion the evidence in its favour.
The Art of War, passage 339
The preparation of mantlets, movable shelters, and various implements of war, will take up three whole months;
The Art of War, passage 940
In the present passage, then, I think that the true reading must be, not ‘plunder,’ but ‘do not plunder.’" Alas, I fear that in this instance the worthy commentator’s feelings outran his judgment. Tu Mu, at least, has no such illusions.
The Art of War, passage 442
B.C.] says: ‘Direct warfare favours frontal attacks, indirect warfare attacks from the rear.’ Ts’ao Kung says: ‘Going straight out to join battle is a direct operation; appearing on the enemy’s rear is an indirect manœuver.’ Li Wei-kung [6th and 7th cent.
The Art of War, passage 354
[Straightway, without waiting for any further advantage.]
The Art of War, passage 1248
17. Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.
The Art of War, passage 449
6. Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhausible 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 but to return once more.
The Art of War, passage 1224
Several of the commentators accept this as an alternative definition; but that it is not what Sun Tzŭ meant is conclusively proved by his subsequent remarks about treating the converted spy generously (§ 21 sqq.). Ho Shih notes three occasions on which converted spies were used with conspicuous success: (1) by T’ien Tan in his defence of Chi-mo (see _supra_, p. 90); (2) by Chao She on his march to O-yu (see p.
The Art of War, passage 1183
19. If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.
The Art of War, passage 491
[1] "Forty-one Years in India," chapter 46.
The Art of War, passage 1086
[This paragraph, though written many years before the Ch’in State became a serious menace, is not a bad summary of the policy by which the famous Six Chancellors gradually paved the way for her final triumph under Shih Huang Ti. Chang Yu, following up his previous note, thinks that Sun Tzŭ is condemning this attitude of cold-blooded selfishness and haughty isolation.]
The Art of War, passage 217
29. See Legge’s Classics, vol. V, Prolegomena p. 27. Legge thinks that the _Tso Chuan_ must have been written in the 5th century, but not before 424 B.C.