"The Art of War" is a literary classic, written in the 6th century BC by the brilliant Chinese tactician and general, Sun Tzu. Since its inception this military treatise has been used by armies throughout history to govern the art of waging war against other nations. In modern times the text has been adapted to influence business tactics and strategies. The argument of this book is written in point form over 13 little chapters and cover such topics from (#1) Laying Plans to (#7) Maneuvering to (#10) Terrain to (#13) The Use of Spies. In the introduction of this book, the editors write, "Sun Tzu was the first to recognize the importance of positioning in strategy and that position is affected both by objective conditions in the physical environment and the subjective opinions of competitive actors in the environment. He taught that strategy was not planning in the sense of working through a to-do list, but rather that it requires quick and appropriate responses to changing conditions."Strangely enough, I found this short little book rather fascinating. As a reader of fantasy novels, I was riveted by making mental comparisons how the principles in this book have influenced authors writing about war, particularly the author I am reading right now, Robert Jordan. On a deeper level however, the observations that Sun Tzu makes are incredibly practical, earthy and wise. They involve recommendations that a leader must be connected to his troops on a emotional level, but at the same time he must not let that level of attachment interfere with the enforcement of discipline. He espouses the importance of planning and the need of secrecy to keep these important plans, and while at the same time emphasizing that plans must be flexible, and their execution quick and sure. Such is his emphasis on preplanning that he declares that one should not start a war until he is certain that battle has already been won, and that preparing for defense rests not on the liklihood that the enemy will come but that rather their position is "unassailable." Above all Sun Tzu stresses the importance of leadership, and most if not all of his arguments place the glory of victory or the blame of defeat squarely on the general's shoulders. Character, in particular, is particularly important in a general, and there are five dangerous faults that a general may show that are "ruinous to the conduct of war:" recklessness (which leads to destruction), cowardice (which leads to capture), a hasty temper (which can be provoked by insults), a delicacy of honour (which is sensitive to shame), and an over-solicitude for his men (which exposes him to worry and trouble). Sun Tzu summarizes his entire arguement in one timeless maxim that I think is still valid today in almost every action of life. "If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt," he writes, "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 yoursef, you will succumb in every battle."
Who ever expected an anciety military leader to say that self-reflection and self-knowledge were what the most important things one needed to wage a war? These two things are so lost in today's society, but I would also say that these two traits are also paramount to living successfully to one's full capacity.
