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01 Laying Plans - The Art of War - Lao Tzu · The Philosophy Insights Collection

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  Chapter one, laying plans, sun Sooux said, the art of war is
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  of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death,
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  a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence, it is a
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  subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected. The art of war,
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  then, is governed by five constant factors to be taken into account in
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  one's deliberations when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field. These are
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  one the moral law, two Heaven, three Earth, four the commander,
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  five Method and discipline. The moral law causes the people to be in complete
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  accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives,
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  undispayed by any danger. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat,
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  times and seasons. Earth comprises distances great and small, danger and security,
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  open ground and narrow passes, the chances of life and death. The
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  commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage, and
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  strictness. By method and discipline nor to be understood. The marshaling of the
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  army and its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the
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  maintenance of roads, by which supplies may reach the army, and the control
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  of military expenditure. These five heads should be familiar to every general. He
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  who knows them will be victorious. He who knows them not will fail.
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  Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let
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  them be made the basis of a comparison. In this wise, One which
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  of the two sovereigns is imbued with the moral law? Two which of the
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  two generals has most ability? Three with whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven
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  and Earth. Four on which side is disciplined more rigorously enforced, Five which
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  army is stronger, Six on which side are officers and men more highly trained?
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  Seven in which army is there the greater constancy, both in reward and
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  punishment. By means of these seven considerations, I can forecast victory or defeat.
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  The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it will conquer.
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  Let such a one be retained in command. The general that hearkens not to
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  my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat. Let such a one
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  be dismissed, while heeding the profit of my counsel avail yourself, also of
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  any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules. According as circumstances are favorable,
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  one should modify one's plans. All warfare is based on deception. Hence,
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  when able to attack, we must seem unable. When using our forces,
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  we must seem inactive. When we are near, we must make the
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  enemy believe we are far away. When far away, we must make him
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  believe we are near. Hold out bates to entice the enemy. Feign disorder,
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  and crush him. If he is secure at all points, be prepared
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  for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your
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  opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritatim, Pretend to be weak,
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  that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him
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  no rest. If his forces are united, separate them, Attack him where
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  he is unprepared, Appear where you are not expected. These military devices leading
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  to victory must not be divulged beforehand. Now, the general who wins a
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  battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general
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  who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead
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  to victory, and few calculations to defeat, how much more no calculation at
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  all. It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is
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  likely to win or lose. End of Chapter one