Steve Minard’s Reviews > The Art of War > Status Update

Chang Yu quotes the words of Han Hsin: "Invincible is the soldier who hath his desire and returneth homewards."

In Frederick the Great's INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS GENERALS we read: "A defensive war is apt to betray us into too frequent detachment. Those generals who have had but little experience attempt to protect every point, while those who are better acquainted with their profession, having only the capital object in view, guard against a decisive blow, and acquiesce in small misfortunes to avoid greater."

The clever combatant does not demand perfection from the untalented. (Tu Mu)

Inasmuch as his victories are gained over circumstances that have not come to light, the world at large knows nothing of them, and he wins no reputation for wisdom; inasmuch as the hostile state submits before there has been any bloodshed, he receives no credit for courage. (Tu Mu)