The Art of War by Sun Tzu (elon musk reading list TXT) 📕

tactical manoeuvring, than which there is nothing more difficult.347 The difficulty of tactical manoeuvring consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.348

Thus, to take a long and circuitous route, after enticing the enemy out of the way, and though starting after him, to contrive to reach the goal before him, shows knowledge of the artifice of deviation.349

Manoeuvring with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.350

If you set a fully equipped army in march in order to snatch an advantage, the chances are that you will be too late.351 On the other hand, to detach a flying column for the purpose involves the sacrifice of its baggage and stores.352

Thus, if you order your men to roll up their buff-coats,353 and make forced marches without halting day or night, covering double the usual distance at a stretch,354 doing a hundred li in order to wrest an advantage, the leaders of all your three divisions will fall into the hands of the enemy.

The stronger men will be in front, the jaded ones will fall behind, and on this plan only one-tenth of your army will reach its destination.355

If you march fifty li in order to outmanoeuvre the enemy, you will lose the leader of your first division, and only half your force will reach the goal.356

If you march thirty li with the same object, two-thirds of your army will arrive.357

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.358

We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors.359

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 pitfalls360 and precipices,361 its marshes362 and swamps.363

We shall be unable to turn natural advantage to account unless we make use of local guides.364

In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed.365 Move only if there is a real advantage to be gained.366

Whether to concentrate or to divide your troops, must be decided by circumstances.

Let your rapidity be that of the wind,367 your compactness that of the forest.368

In raiding and plundering be like fire,369 in immovability like a mountain.370

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.371

When you plunder a countryside, let the spoil be divided amongst your men;372 when you capture new territory, cut it up into allotments for the benefit of the soldiery.373

Ponder and deliberate374 before you make a move.375

He will conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation.376 Such is the art of manoeuvring.377

The Book of Army Management says:378 On the field of battle,379 the spoken word does not carry far enough: hence the institution of gongs and drums.380 Nor can ordinary objects be seen clearly enough: hence the institution of banners and flags.

Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host381 may be focused on one particular point.382

The host thus forming a single united body, is it impossible either for the brave to advance alone, or for the cowardly to retreat alone.383 This is the art of handling large masses of men.

In night-fighting, then, make much use of signal-fires and drums, and in fighting by day, of flags and banners, as a means of influencing the ears and eyes of your army.384

A whole army may be robbed of its spirit;385 a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind.386

Now a soldier’s spirit is keenest in the morning;387 by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is bent only on returning to camp.

A clever general, therefore,388 avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This is the art of studying moods.389

Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorder and hubbub amongst the enemy:⁠—this is the art of retaining self-possession.

To be near the goal while the enemy is still far from it, to wait at ease390 while the enemy is toiling and struggling, to be well-fed while the enemy is famished:⁠—this is the art of husbanding one’s strength.

To refrain from intercepting391 an enemy whose banners are in perfect order, to refrain from attacking an army drawn up in calm and confident array:392⁠—this is the art of studying circumstances.393

It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.394

Do not pursue an enemy who simulates flight; do not attack soldiers whose temper is keen.

Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy.395 Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.396

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free.397 Do not press a desperate foe too hard.398

Such is the art of warfare.399

VIII Variation of Tactics400

Sun Tzǔ said: