Master Sun’s top 10 pieces of wisdom that you should know too
The Best War is the One That Never Began
The Art of War was written roughly 2,500 years ago – tradition places it in the 5th century BC, at the end of China’s Spring and Autumn period – yet the principles set out in its thirteen chapters still hold today. It touches not only on fighting, but also on politics, philosophy, strategy and economics. The ideas of this Chinese military strategist continue to inspire not just soldiers, but also those who lead and build companies and face competition. After all, each of us fights some kind of battle now and then…
The headline of this page is not a literal quotation. It is a loose paraphrase of the best-known idea from chapter 3: supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.
Ten lessons. Scroll on.
- Lesson 1
If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame…
Before you turn your anger on your subordinates, take a self-critical look at your leadership and check whether your instructions are unambiguous and whether you all understand them in the same way.
This line does not come from the thirteen chapters but from Sima Qian’s biography of Sun Tzu, usually printed as an introduction to the book.
- Lesson 2
Calm and composure come before victory; turmoil brings defeat…
In war, in business and in life, losing your head is never a good idea. We may be driven by emotions, but the better we learn to control them and the more we can calm our minds, the greater our advantage over our competitors.
A loose paraphrase; the closest passage is in chapter 7, on waiting, disciplined and calm, for disorder among the enemy.
- Lesson 3 · Chapter 2
Though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays…
Planning and caution are necessary and useful. But here too you need a sense of proportion. Sometimes it is right to forget about needless waiting and simply act. Otherwise you risk someone else making the move instead…
- Lesson 4 · Chapter 2
A wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy’s provisions is equivalent to twenty of one’s own…
Why fight if you don’t intend to profit from the fight? Whatever battle you win, the first thing you should do with your victory is put the defeated enemy to work – he will have no time to plan revenge, and he will make your life easier into the bargain.
- Lesson 5 · Chapter 3
He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks…
Make sure your team is aligned and that every part of your organisation is rowing in the same direction.
- Lesson 6 · Chapter 4
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself…
It is not enough to work only on yourself. It is just as important to watch what your opponent is doing.
- Lesson 7 · Chapter 6
The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy’s will to be imposed on him…
If you can plant your views and ideas in your opponent’s mind, you control the rules of the game and are on an almost certain path to final victory.
- Lesson 8 · Chapter 6
Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances…
Be creative. If you have several brands, for example, don’t try to apply the same strategy to all of them at any cost. There is no guarantee you can repeat a success every time.
- Lesson 9 · Chapter 9
Soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline. This is a certain road to victory…
Keeping a friendly working environment is fine, but the moment the number of people in your organisation exceeds one, it is time to start working on the rules of how things run.
- Lesson 10 · Chapter 5
The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers…
It doesn’t matter how big your organisation is. The better you set the rules of the game at the start, the easier it will be to manage. The same goes for running a household or for the rules of a relationship.
Who was Sun Tzu
According to tradition he was born around 544 BC and died around 496 BC. Reliable information about his life is scarce, however, and some historians doubt that the book was written by a single person. He earned a reputation as an extraordinary military strategist, general, philosopher and author.
Reading about reading