Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Sun TzuRead
An army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water avoids the heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids strength and strikes weakness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that just like water adapts to the terrain, an army should seek out weaknesses rather than confront strengths.
Sun Tzu uses the metaphor of water to illustrate the strategy of adaptability in warfare. Just as water flows around obstacles and seeks the path of least resistance, a military force should avoid engaging directly with stronger opponents and instead focus on finding and exploiting vulnerabilities. This principle is not only applicable in warfare but can also be extended to various aspects of life, emphasizing the importance of strategy and adaptability in achieving one's goals.
Themes
StrategyAdaptabilityStrengthWeaknessWarfare
In practice
Example use cases
In a military strategy discussion, one might reference Sun Tzu to emphasize the importance of tactics.
More from Sun Tzu
All quotes βGreat results, can be achieved with small forces.
Sun TzuRead
To capture an enemies army is better than to destroy it.
Sun TzuRead
The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.
Sun TzuRead
You can ensure the success of your attacks if you only attack places that are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. Therefore, that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.
Sun TzuRead
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. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Sun TzuRead
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