The Art of WarIf 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.... These are the words of ancient Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu, whose now-classic treatise, The Art of War, was written more than 2,500 years ago. Originally a text for victory on the battlefield, the book has vastly transcended its original purpose. Here is a seminal work on the philosophy of successful leadership that is as applicable to contemporary business as it is to war. Today many leading American business schools use the text as required reading for aspiring managers, and even Oliver Stone's award-winning film Wall Street cites The Art of War as a guide to those who strive for success. Now acclaimed novelist James Clavell, for whom Sun Tzu's writing has been an inspiration, gives us a newly edited Art of War. Author of the best-selling Asian saga consisting of Shogun, Tai-Pan, Gai-jin, King Rat, Noble House, and Whirlwind, Clavell first heard about Sun Tzu in Hong Kong in 1977, and since then The Art Of War has been his constant companion--he refers to it frequently in Noble House. He has taken a 1910 translation of the book and clarified it for the contemporary reader. This new edition of The Art Of War is an extraordinary book made even more relevant by an extraordinary editor. |
Contents
Section 1 | 9 |
Section 2 | 12 |
Section 3 | 15 |
Section 4 | 19 |
Section 5 | 21 |
Section 6 | 25 |
Section 7 | 30 |
Section 8 | 37 |
Section 9 | 41 |
Section 10 | 50 |
Section 11 | 56 |
Section 12 | 73 |
Section 13 | 77 |
Section 14 | 83 |
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Common terms and phrases
able advance advantage army arrived attack battle began body bring calculations called camp carry cause Ch'i Chao chief command conquer courage dangerous death defeat defense desperate direct discipline dispositions distance drums enemy enemy's face fall fear fight fire five flags follow force front gain give ground hand head heights Hence hold host hundred keep King kingdom lead leader means military move natural never night occupy officers once opponent Pan Ch'ao pass plans position possible prepared prevent principle reach rear remain replied result retreat rewards river road routed saying secret seize sent shows side skillful soldiers sovereign spies spirit stand strength strong Sun Tzu sure tactics thousand town troops Ts'ao turn unable victory wait walls weak whole wise