The Art of War — Sun Tzu

The Art of War

Sun Tzu · Licença: Public domain · Fonte

• On desperate ground, I would proclaim to my soldiers the hopelessness of saving their lives. ¶823
• 51. For it is the soldier's disposition to offer an obstinate resistance when surrounded, to fight hard when he cannot help himself, and to obey promptly when he has fallen into danger. ¶825
• 55. Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all and sundry, nor does he foster the power of other states. He carries out his own secret designs, keeping his antagonists in awe. ¶831
• Thus he is able to capture their cities and overthrow their kingdoms. ¶833
• 56. Bestow rewards without regard to rule, ¶835
• without regard to previous arrangements; ¶839
• and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man. ¶841
• 57. Confront your soldiers with the deed itself; never let them know your design. ¶843
• When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy. 58. Place your army in deadly peril, and it will survive; plunge it into desperate straits, and it will come off in safety. ¶845
• 59. For it is precisely when a force has fallen into harm's way that is capable of striking a blow for victory. ¶847
• 60. Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose. ¶849
• 61. By persistently hanging on the enemy's flank, ¶851
• we shall succeed in the long run ¶853
• in killing the commander-in-chief. ¶855
• 62. This is called ability to accomplish a thing by sheer cunning. 63. On the day that you take up your command, block the frontier passes, destroy the official tallies, ¶857
• and stop the passage of all emissaries. ¶859
• 64. Be stern in the council-chamber, ¶861
• so that you may control the situation. ¶863
• 65. If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in. 66. Forestall your opponent by seizing what he holds dear, ¶865
• and subtly contrive to time his arrival on the ground. ¶867
• 67. Walk in the path defined by rule, ¶869
• and accommodate yourself to the enemy until you can fight a decisive battle. ¶871
• 68. At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you. ¶873
• ----------------------------------------------------------------- ¶878
• 1. Sun Tzu said: There are five ways of attacking with fire. The first is to burn soldiers in their camp; ¶881
• the third is to burn baggage trains; ¶885
• the fourth is to burn arsenals and magazines; ¶887
• the fifth is to hurl dropping fire amongst the enemy. ¶889
• 2. In order to carry out an attack, we must have means available. ¶891
• the material for raising fire should always be kept in readiness. ¶893
• 3. There is a proper season for making attacks with fire, and special days for starting a conflagration. 4. The proper season is when the weather is very dry; the special days are those when the moon is in the constellations of the Sieve, the Wall, the Wing or the Cross-bar; ¶895
• 8. (3) When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it up with an attack, if that is practicable; if not, stay where you are. ¶899
• 9. (4) If it is possible to make an assault with fire from without, do not wait for it to break out within, but deliver your attack at a favorable moment. ¶901
• 10. (5) When you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from the leeward. ¶903
• 11. A wind that rises in the daytime lasts long, but a night breeze soon falls. ¶905
• 12. In every army, the five developments connected with fire must be known, the movements of the stars calculated, and a watch kept for the proper days. ¶907
• 13. Hence those who use fire as an aid to the attack show intelligence; those who use water as an aid to the attack gain an accession of strength. 14. By means of water, an enemy may be intercepted, but not robbed of all his belongings. ¶909
• 15. Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise; for the result is waste of time and general stagnation. ¶911
• 16. Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources. ¶913
• 17. Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical. ¶915

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