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

Ground which can be abandoned but is hard to re-occupy is called entangling.524

From a position of this sort, if the enemy is unprepared, you may sally forth and defeat him. But if the enemy is prepared for your coming, and you fail to defeat him, then, return being impossible, disaster will ensue.525

When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the first move, it is called temporizing ground.526

In a position of this sort, even though the enemy should offer us an attractive bait,527 it will be advisable not to stir forth, but rather to retreat, thus enticing the enemy in his turn; then, when part of his army has come out, we may deliver our attack with advantage.528

With regard to narrow passes, if you can occupy them first,529 let them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy.530

Should the army forestall you in occupying a pass, do not go after him if the pass is fully garrisoned, but only if it is weakly garrisoned.

With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.531

If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.532

If you are situated at a great distance from the enemy, and the strength of the two armies is equal,533 it is not easy to provoke a battle,534 and fighting will be to your disadvantage.

These six are the principles connected with Earth.535 The general who has attained a responsible post must be careful to study them.536

Now an army is exposed to six several calamities, not arising from natural causes,537 but from faults for which the general is responsible. These are: (1) Flight; (2) insubordination; (3) collapse; (4) ruin; (5) disorganization; (6) rout.538

Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled against another ten times its size, the result will be the flight of the former.539

When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is insubordination.540 When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is collapse.541

When the higher officers542 are angry and insubordinate, and on meeting the enemy give battle on their own account from a feeling of resentment, before the commander-in-chief can tell whether or no he is in a position to fight, the result is ruin.543

When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are not clear and distinct;544 when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men,545 and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganization.

When a general, unable to estimate the enemy’s strength, allows an inferior force to engage a larger one, or hurls a weak detachment against a powerful one, and neglects to place picked soldiers in the front rank, the result must be a rout.546

These are six ways of courting defeat,547 which must be carefully noted by the general who has attained a responsible post.548

The natural formation of the country is the soldier’s best ally;549 but a power of estimating the adversary,550 of controlling the forces of victory,551 and of shrewdly calculating difficulties, dangers and distances,552 constitutes the test of a great general.553

He who knows these things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated.

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding.554

The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace,555 whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign,556 is the jewel of the kingdom.557

Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.558

If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kindhearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder:559 then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose.560

If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.561

If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.562

If we know that the enemy is open to attack, and also know that our men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the nature of the ground makes fighting impracticable, we have still gone only halfway towards victory.563

Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.564

Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt;565 if you know Heaven and know Earth,566