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Sun Tzu - The Art of War
Personal archives | 05-04-02 | PsyOp

Posted on 05/04/2002 10:10:07 PM PDT by PsyOp

AMBASSADORS

When the enemy's envoy's speak in humble terms, but continues his preparations, he will advance. When their language is deceptive but the enemy pretentiously advances, he will retreat. When the envoys speak in apologetic terms, he wishes a respite. When without a previous understanding the enemy asks for a truce, he is plotting. When the enemy sees an advantage but does not advance to seize it, he is fatigued. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c. 400-320 b.c.


ARMIES

One who sets the entire army in motion to chase an advantage will not attain it. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.

To capture an enemies army is better than to destroy it. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


CHANGE As water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.
DECEPTION

All warfare is based on deception. Therefore, when capable, feign incapacity; when active, inactivity. When near, make it appear that you are far away; When far away that you are near. Offer the enemy a bait to lure him; feign disorder and strike him. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


DETERRENCE

It is a doctrine of war not to assume the enemy will not come, but rather to rely on one's readiness to meet him; not to presume that he will not attack, but rather to make one's self invincible. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


ENEMIES

Do not press an enemy at bay. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c.400-320 b.c.


FIGHTING

To fight and conquer in all our battles is not the supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistence without fighting. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c.400-320 b.c.

He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


FOREIGN POLICY

If not in the interests of the state, do not act. If you cannot succeed, do not use troops. If you are not in danger, do not fight. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


GENERALS

He whose generals are able and not interfered with by the sovereign will be victorious. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c.400-320 b.c.

It is the business of a general to be serene and inscrutable, impartial and self-controlled. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c.400-320 b.c.

The General who in advancing does not seek personal fame, and in withdrawing is not concerned with avoiding punishment, but whose only purpose is to protect the people and promote the best interests of his sovereign, is the precious jewel of the state. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c.400-320 b.c.


INFORMATION

Know the enemy, know yourself; your victory will never be endangered. Know the ground, know the weather; your victory will then be total. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c.400-320 b.c.


LEADERSHIP

When orders are consistently trustworthy and observed, the relationship of a commander with his troops is satisfactory. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c.400-320 b.c.

The general must be the first in the toils and fatigues of the army. In the heat of summer he does not spread his parasol nor in the cold of winter don thick clothing. In dangerous places he must dismount and walk. He waits until the army's wells have been dug and only then drinks; until the army's food is cooked before he eats; until the army's fortifications have been completed, to shelter himself. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c.400-320 b.c.

A skilled commander seeks victory from the situation and does not demand it of his subordinates. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c.400-320 b.c.


MANEUVER

Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuver. What is difficult about maneuver is to make the devious route the most direct and to turn misfortune to advantage. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


PATIENCE

He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


POWER

In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 B.C.


PREPARATION

One who has few must prepare against the enemy; one who has many makes the enemy prepare against him. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


PROVOCATION

Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


SPEED

Speed is the essence of war. Take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness; travel by unexpected routes and strike him where he has taken no precaution. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


STRATEGY

Should one ask: 'how do I cope with a well-ordered enemy host about to attack me?' I reply: seize something he cherishes and he will conform to your desires. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.

Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace; divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is the master of his enemy's fate. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.

What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.

To a surrounded enemy you must leave a way of escape. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.

When campaigning, be swift as the wind; in leisurely march, majestic as the forest; in raiding and plundering, like fire; in standing, firm as the mountains. As unfathomable as the clouds, move like a thunderbolt. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


SURPRISE

Birds rising in flight is a sign that the enemy is lying in ambush; when the wild animals are startled and flee he is trying to take you unaware. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.

Attack where he is unprepared; sally forth when he does not expect you. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


TACTICS

When I have won a victory I do not repeat my tactics but respond to circumstances in an infinite variety of ways. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War, c.400-320 b.c.


VICTORY

As water shapes its flow in accordance with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the situation of the enemy. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.

Victory is the main object in war. If this is long delayed, weapons are blunted and morale depressed. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.

He whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


VULNERABILITY

Invincibility depends on one's self; the enemy's vulnerability on him. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


WAR

War is a matter of vital importance to the state; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.

Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.

There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefitted. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


WINNING

The supreme excellence is not to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles. The supreme excellence is to subdue the armies of your enemies without having to fight them. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War. c.400-320 b.c.


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KEYWORDS: government; history; philosophy; politics; quotes; strategy; suntzu; tactics; theartofwar; war
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1 posted on 05/04/2002 10:10:07 PM PDT by PsyOp
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To: Marine Inspector; infowars; 2Trievers; sleavelessinseattle; Righty1; twyn1; mountaineer...
Fall In!
2 posted on 05/04/2002 10:13:31 PM PDT by PsyOp
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham
filed for future reference, gratis.
3 posted on 05/04/2002 10:17:14 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham
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To: PsyOp; Squantos; Travis McGee; harpseal; Poohbah
Lazamataz's Art Of War

VISIBILITY

If we can see it, we can kill it.

Being invisible is better than being well-armed.

FORCE MULTIPLIERS

Use terrain when possible, it is a force-multiplier.

Good CCC is an extreme force multiplier.

Being dug-in is no longer a meaningful defense advantage. Mobility is better than fortification.

WAR BY OTHER MEANS

Propaganda is king in todays world. If possible, record or even manufacture 'war crimes' by your enemy.

A camera is nearly as deadly as a bomb, properly employed.

Get news out on your terms and you may win world approval.

4 posted on 05/04/2002 10:20:30 PM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: PsyOp
Can't get enough PME can you?
5 posted on 05/04/2002 10:21:28 PM PDT by Archie Bunker on steroids
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To: Lazamataz
Lazamataz's Art Of War

Great stuff. Never heard of the author, though. Is there a book?

6 posted on 05/04/2002 10:23:49 PM PDT by PsyOp
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To: Archie Bunker on steroids
Can't get enough PME can you?

Pardon my cluelessness - what's PME?

7 posted on 05/04/2002 10:25:28 PM PDT by PsyOp
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To: PsyOp
Great stuff. Never heard of the author, though. Is there a book?

Can I get a nice advance? The author is (blush) me. :o)

8 posted on 05/04/2002 10:25:33 PM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Lazamataz
Well, if there's enough for a book I think you might start looking for a publisher.
9 posted on 05/04/2002 10:27:50 PM PDT by PsyOp
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To: Lazamataz; PsyOp ;Archy ;Patton ; yehuda ;harpseal
See .........it pay's to stay awake in class Laz !

Louis Beam, Col Amoss, Sun Tzu, The 40 Ronin, and now Lazamataz's theory on being effective versus evasive is something all need to understand in these seditious times we are subjected to by socialist's inside the wire. Just my opinion of course.........

Stay Safe Laz.....

10 posted on 05/04/2002 10:30:29 PM PDT by Squantos
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To: PsyOp
I think it's a reference to Professional Military Education aka ........(PME).........

Sounds like Air Force Wingnut jargon. Just a language skill they don't teach at DLI that I picked up during my 26 years in Uncle Sugars Wind Force !

Stay Safe !

11 posted on 05/04/2002 10:34:52 PM PDT by Squantos
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To: PsyOp
Sun Tzu unfortunately was not read by Temujin (AKA Ghenghis Khan) whose motto was;

"You may have what you can take. You may keep what you can hold"

In one sentence he summed up the rule of war, politics, economics and life in general.

12 posted on 05/04/2002 10:37:04 PM PDT by Cacique
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To: Squantos
See .........it pay's to stay awake in class Laz !

They always told me what I learn will save my life. Tends to make a man focus. :o)

I also observed later on that the best camouflage is not Woodland Camouflage #2, or the new "Pixelized" version of Woodland that they are issuing, but ordinary street clothes. It is the best way to blend in to a lot of people, and it seems people are in such abundance as to become as ubiquitious as forest used to be.

13 posted on 05/04/2002 10:39:25 PM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Squantos
Thanks. We Army Pukes need things spelled out for us, as my Jar Head brother is so fond of saying.
14 posted on 05/04/2002 10:42:50 PM PDT by PsyOp
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To: Squantos
Sounds like Air Force Wingnut jargon. Just a language skill they don't teach at DLI that I picked up during my 26 years in Uncle Sugars Wind Force !

You were USAF??? I thought you were a victim of gravity!

15 posted on 05/04/2002 10:44:11 PM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Cacique
Temujin

I've been reading a lot about him lately. The greatest conqueror of all time, a brilliant strategist, and a fierce leader whose troops followed and obeyed out respect for him as man and warrior. To bad he didn't write a book of military maxims.

16 posted on 05/04/2002 10:49:18 PM PDT by PsyOp
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To: Lazamataz
So much for reading all my post's and freepmail over the years eh Laz......compression fractures in my back prove I was a victim of thin air PLF's & Gravity. Uncle Sugar's Wind Force, Navy, Marines and Army all attend the same schools for EOD....all at the same time. Different service instructor almost every other day.......We then work togeather on deployments like Secret Service VIP's and range clearances, and of course the odd low intensity conflict or two that alway's pop's up here and there over ones career.

Sorry if I mislead ya Bro !!??!! ....... (pay attention damnit ........:o)

Stay Safe !

17 posted on 05/04/2002 11:00:48 PM PDT by Squantos
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To: PsyOp
He was the leader of one of the smaller tribes in the steppes of the Gobi desert. The Empire reached it's zenith under Kublai his grandson. Unfortunately military and political genius proved not to be heredetary as the unified empire collapsed with the passing of Kublai.
18 posted on 05/04/2002 11:01:32 PM PDT by Cacique
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To: Squantos
Just my opinion of course....

And a mighty fine one at that.

"An opinion is praised for being in accordance with the truth." - Aristotle, Ethics,334-23 B.C.

19 posted on 05/04/2002 11:02:01 PM PDT by PsyOp
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To: Squantos
(sorry) (I remember now) (damn, I'm too young for Senior Moments)
20 posted on 05/04/2002 11:03:18 PM PDT by Lazamataz
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