Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Sun TzuRead
When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce. If the enemy's troops march up angrily and remain facing ours for a long time without either joining battle or removing demands, the situation is one that requires great vigilance and circumspection. To begin by bluster, but afterward to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing deceptive gestures and maintaining vigilance in tense situations.
In this quote, Sun Tzu advises that when an enemy sends envoys with flattering words, it often indicates a desire for peace or truce. Conversely, if an enemy shows aggression without directly engaging in battle, one must remain cautious and aware of their true intentions. The classic tactic of bravado followed by fear reveals poor strategic thinking, highlighting the need for intelligence in warfare.
Themes
TacticsCautionWarfareStrategyIntelligence
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting about negotiations, one could emphasize the importance of being aware of mixed messages in communications.
More from Sun Tzu
All quotes →Great results, can be achieved with small forces.
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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.
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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.
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