Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Sun TzuRead
And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him.
Interpretation
A skilled strategist chooses the conditions of engagement rather than being forced into them.
This quote by Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of control and preparation in conflict. It suggests that a wise leader or strategist not only prepares for battle but also dictates the terms of engagement, choosing the battlefield to their advantage rather than allowing the enemy to impose their conditions.
In practice
In a leadership seminar discussing effective conflict resolution.
Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Great results, can be achieved with small forces.
To capture an enemies army is better than to destroy it.
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.
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.
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.
Take heed of the Vinegar of sweet Wine, and the Anger of Good-nature.
Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment. Cleverness is mere opinion. Bewilderment brings intuitive knowledge.
Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more.
Next to the originator of a good sentence is the first quoter of it. Many will read the book before one thinks of quoting a passage. As soon as he has done this, that line will be quoted east and west.
It is good to forget one's anger against one's wrongdoer, whoever he may be, for countless number of evils will quickly grow from this anger.
There must be a reason why some people can afford to live well. They must have worked for it. I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.
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