The Art of War

by Sun Tzu

He who relies solely on warlike measures shall be exterminated; he who relies solely on peaceful measures shall perish.

the gandhian approach is wrong --> blind reliance on non-violence is detrimental.

These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.

All warfare is based on deception.

Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

“When he is in disorder, crush him.”

“while we are taking our ease, wait for the enemy to tire himself out.” The YU LAN has “Lure him on and tire him out.”] If his forces are united, separate them.

appear where you are not expected.

Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought.

“He who wishes to fight must first count the cost,”

amateurs talk tactics, experts talk logistics.

There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.

use balance of power to keep adversaries in check.

In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

“A kingdom should not be governed from without, and army should not be directed from within.”

what does it mean ?

Humanity and justice are the principles on which to govern a state, but not an army; opportunism and flexibility, on the other hand, are military rather than civil virtues to assimilate the governing of an army”—

Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

it was also quoted in the novel - "2034"

“the thing is to see the plant before it has germinated,”

delayed gratification, vision, patience.

he who can look into the future and discern conditions that are not yet manifest, will never make a blunder and therefore invariably win.”]

The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.’”

stealth

“As a general rule, those who are waging war should get rid of all the domestic troubles before proceeding to attack the external foe.”]

In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed.

Cao Cao in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

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

blitzkreig

22. He will conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation.

the spirit of the enemy’s soldiers will be keenest when they have newly arrived on the scene, and it is therefore our cue not to fight at once, but to wait until their ardor and enthusiasm have worn off, and then strike. It is in this way that they may be robbed of their keen spirit.” Li

Ivar the boneless' battle plan (he convinced his elder brother Bjorn) in Vikings Netflix series

“Presence of mind is the general’s most important asset. It is the quality which enables him to discipline disorder and to inspire courage into the panic-stricken.”

“Attacking does not merely consist in assaulting walled cities or striking at an army in battle array; it must include the art of assailing the enemy’s mental equilibrium.”]

Batman

A clever general, therefore, 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.

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. [This does not mean that the enemy is to be allowed to escape. The object, as Tu Mu puts it, is “to make him believe that there is a road to safety, and thus prevent his fighting with the courage of despair.” Tu Mu adds pleasantly: “After that, you may crush him.”]

“if a certain road is short, it must be followed; if an army is isolated, it must be attacked; if a town is in a parlous condition, it must be besieged; if a position can be stormed, it must be attempted; and if consistent with military operations, the ruler’s commands must be obeyed.”

“If we wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, we must not fix our minds on that alone, but allow for the possibility of the enemy also doing some harm to us, and let this enter as a factor into our calculations.”]

Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his resources;