The Art of War | Page 7

morning; by noonday it has
begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is bent only on returning to
camp.
29. 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.
30. Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorder and
hubbub amongst the enemy:--this is the art of retaining self-possession.
31. To be near the goal while the enemy is still far from it, to wait at
ease 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.
32. To refrain from intercepting an enemy whose banners are in perfect
order, to refrain from attacking an army drawn up in calm and
confident array:--this is the art of studying circumstances.
33. It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy, nor
to oppose him when he comes downhill.
34. Do not pursue an enemy who simulates flight; do not attack soldiers
whose temper is keen.
35. Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an
army that is returning home.
36. When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a
desperate foe too hard.
37. Such is the art of warfare.
VIII. VARIATION IN TACTICS
1. Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives his commands from the
sovereign, collects his army and concentrates his forces
2. When in difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high
roads intersect, join hands with your allies. Do not linger in
dangerously isolated positions. In hemmed-in situations, you must
resort to stratagem. In desperate position, you must fight.
3. There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be

not attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must
not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be
obeyed.
4. The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that
accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.
5. The general who does not understand these, may be well acquainted
with the configuration of the country, yet he will not be able to turn his
knowledge to practical account.
6. So, the student of war who is unversed in the art of war of varying
his plans, even though he be acquainted with the Five Advantages, will
fail to make the best use of his men.
7. Hence in the wise leader's plans, considerations of advantage and of
disadvantage will be blended together.
8. If our expectation of advantage be tempered in this way, we may
succeed in accomplishing the essential part of our schemes.
9. If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always ready
to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.
10. Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them; and make
trouble for them, and keep them constantly engaged; hold out specious
allurements, and make them rush to any given point.
11. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the
enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on
the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made
our position unassailable.
12. There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: (1)
Recklessness, which leads to destruction; (2) cowardice, which leads to
capture; (3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; (4) a
delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame; (5) over-solicitude for
his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.

13. These are the five besetting sins of a general, ruinous to the conduct
of war.
14. When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause will
surely be found among these five dangerous faults. Let them be a
subject of meditation.
IX. THE ARMY ON THE MARCH
1. Sun Tzu said: We come now to the question of encamping the army,
and observing signs of the enemy. Pass quickly over mountains, and
keep in the neighborhood of valleys.
2. Camp in high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order to
fight. So much for mountain warfare.
3. After crossing a river, you should get far away from it.
4. When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not
advance to meet it in mid-stream. It will be best to let half the army get
across, and then deliver your attack.
5. If you are anxious to fight, you should not go to meet the invader
near a river which he has to cross.
6. Moor your craft higher up than the enemy, and facing the sun. Do
not move up-stream to