PART ONE OF SUN TZU BY KENNETH SCOT STREMSKY I may add more text to this page of information dealing with The Art of War by Sun Tzu translated by General Samuel B. Griffith. The excerpts come from the paperback version of the book that has a Foreword by B. H. Liddell Hart. The Art of War by Sun Tzu is the best book about strategy I have ever read. I have read many books dealing with strategy. Some books I may mention in the future. Some books I may never mention. I have also read many articles dealing with strategy. Political campaigns, businesses, soldiers, and most importantly individuals may learn a great deal of strategy after they read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. The second best book I have ever read dealing with strategy is the Second Revised Edition of Strategy by B. H. Liddell Hart. The book discusses military history and many of its lessons may also be modified to be used by political campaigns, businesses, soldiers, and individuals. If I am able to get a much better website up in the future, you will see better what I mean. If I am able to do a great deal of television advertising, radio advertising, and newspaper advertising in the future you will see the techniques also applied in many of the advertisements. The following excerpt comes from pages 63 and 64 of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "SUN TZU said: 1. 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. Li Ch'uan: 'Weapons are tools of ill omen.' War is a grave matter; one is apprehensive lest men embark upon it without due reflection. 2. Therefore, appraise it in terms of five fundamental factors and make comparisons of the seven elements later named. So you may assess its essentials. 3. The first of these factors is moral influence; the second, weather; the third, terrain; the fourth, command; and the fifth, doctrine. Chang Yu: The systematic order above is perfectly clear. When troops are raised to chastise transgressors, the temple council first considers the adequacy of the rulers' benevolence and the confidence of their peoples; next, the appropriateness of nature's seasons, and finally the difficulties of the topography. After thorough deliberation of these three matters a general is appointed to launch the attack. After troops have crossed the borders, responsibility for laws and orders devolve upon the general. 4. By moral influence I mean that which causes the people to be in harmony with their leaders, so that they will accompany them in life and unto death without fear of mortal peril. Chang Yu: When one treats people with benevolence, justice, and righteousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders. The Book of Changes says: 'In happiness at overcoming difficulties, people forget the danger of death.' MY COMMENTS I do not think our country should spend less money on national defense now. I think our country should spend our defense dollars more wisely so that soldiers and our society benefit more from defense spending. Our country always has to be prepared for War. When our country is not prepared for War, our country is more likely to be hit by a Pearl Harbor type of attack. The Second Revised Edition of Strategy by B.H. Liddell Hart is a great book about military history that discusses what happens when a country is not prepared to go to War. If our country is severely attacked, our country may not be able to pay for health care, education, or much else. Hitler would probably not have been able to murder eleven million people if our country had been prepared for War and been willing to go to War in the 1930s. Machiavelli discusses what often happens to countries that do not go to War when going to War is advantageous for a country and bad for its enemy. When a country does not go after an enemy when the enemy is weak, the country may be defeated by its enemy when the enemy is strong. This is one of the main lessons to be learned from the history of War. The Military Trainers Division I discuss on my website will help our soldiers be better trained and increase the likelihood that they will not die in combat. My comments dealing with Machiavelli's Discourses and The Prince give examples of how I want soldiers to be trained so that they are able to fight well and increase the likelihood they will be able to find good paying jobs after they leave the military. A leader who discusses the leader's views on the issues is more likely to be followed than a leader who does not provide much detail. A leader who is willing to fight for soldiers and Veterans on the leader's website is more likely to be followed than a person who does not discuss soldiers and Veterans much on a website. I mention on my website many things that I believe will improve the lives of our soldiers and Veterans. Chang Yu's statement that "After troops have crossed the borders, responsibility for laws and orders devolve upon the general." I agree with this statement some. I also disagree with the statement some. The President of the United States of America and Congress should make sure our soldiers act the way our government wants them to act. The President of the United States of America as Commander In Chief should make sure that the orders of the President of the United States of America are understood and usually followed. A President of the United States of America does need to give a lot of freedom to generals and other soldiers to win battles. Conditions often change very fast in warfare and the better trained our soldiers are too deal with rapid changes the more likely they will win. Soldiers often lose the ability to communicate with the President of the United States of America. Soldiers need to know that they may use their good judgement especially when this is the case. Soldiers need to know that rape of women, children, and men is never acceptable and that rape committed by a soldier is a punishment that deserves the death penalty. When our country sends troops into battle, our country should usually allow our troops to win. Sometimes, total victory is not advantageous to our country in the short term and long term. Too often, our soldiers have not been able to obtain total victory when they should have been able to obtain total victory. Too often in our country's history, our country has allowed our troops to be cannon fodder. Too often in our country's history, our military has conducted experiments on our soldiers without their knowledge and consent. Too often, our country has allowed our soldiers, a soldier's spouse, and a soldier's children to live in poverty. Too often, our country has abandoned our soldiers after they have become Veterans. The following excerpt comes from pages 65 and 66 of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "7. By command I mean the general's qualities of wisdom, sincerity, humanity, courage, and strictness. Li Ch'uan: These five are the virtues of the general. Hence the army refers to him as 'The Repected One.' Tu Mu: ... If wise, a commander is able to recognize changing circumstances and to act expediently. If sincere, his men will have no doubt of the certainty of rewards and punishments. If humane, he loves mankind, sympathizes with others, and appreciates their industry and toil. If courageous, he gains victory by seizing opportunity without hesitation. If strict, his troops are disciplined because they are in awe of him and are afraid of punishment. Shen Pao-hsu ... said: 'If a general is not courageous he will be unable to conquer doubts or to create great plans.' 8. By doctrine I mean organization, control, assignment of appropriate ranks to officers, regulation of supply routes, and the provision of principal items used by the army. 9. There is no general who has not heard of these five matters. Those who master them win; those who do not are defeated. 10. Therefore in laying plans compare the following elements, appraising them with the utmost care. 11. If you say which ruler possesses moral influence, which commander is the more able, which army obtains the advantages of nature and the terrain, in which regulations and instructions are better carried out, which troops are the stronger; Chang Yu: Chariots strong, horses fast, troops valiant, weapons sharp - so that when they hear the drums beat the attack they are happy, and when they hear the gongs sound the retirement they are enraged. He who is like this is strong. 12. Which has the better trained officers and men; Tu Yu:... Therefore Master Wang said: 'If officers are unaccustomed to rigorous drilling they will be worried and hesistant in battle; if generals are not thoroughly trained they will inwardly quail when they face the enemy.' 13. And which administers rewards and punishments in a more enlightened manner; Tu Mu: Neither should be excessive. 14. I will be able to forecast which side will be victorious and which defeated. 15. If a general who heeds my strategy is employed he is certain to win. Retain him! When one who refuses to listen to my strategy is employed, he is certain to be defeated. Dismiss him! 16. Having paid heed to the advantages of my plans, the general must create situations which will contribute to their accomplishment. By 'situations' I mean that he should act expediently in accordance with what is advantageous and so control the balance." MY COMMENTS A leader should be well-prepared for battle. A leader should know how to play by the leader's own rules. A leader should not fight a War like the game of Chess. A leader has to know how to make Kings into pawns and pawns into Kings. A leader has to know how best to improve the capabilities of the leader's soldiers. A leader should be prepared for many types of occurences. A leader should know how to go with the flow. A leader should know how to change the course of the flow in many different types of circumstances. The following excerpt comes from page 73 of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "3. Victory is the main object in war. If this is long delayed, weapons are blunted and morale depressed. When troops attack cities, their strength will be exhausted. 4. When the army engages in protracted campaigns the resources of the state will not suffice. Chang Yu:... The campaigns of the Emperor Wu of the Han dragged on with no result and after the treasury was emptied he issued a mournful edict. 5. When your weapons are dulled and ardour damped, your strength exhausted and treasure spent, neighbouring rulers will take advantage of your distress to act. And even though you have wise counsellors, none will be able to lay good plans for the future. 6. Thus, while we have heard of blundering swiftness in war, we have not yet seen a clever operation that was prolonged. Tu Yu: An attack may lack ingenuity, but it must be delivered with supernatural speed. 7. For there has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited. Li' Ch'uan: The Spring and Autumn Annals says: 'War is like unto fire; those who will not put aside weapons are themselves consumed by them.' 8. Thus those unable to understand the dangers inherent in employing troops are equally unable to understand the advantageous ways of doing so." The following excerpt is from page 76 of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "19. Treat the captives well, and care for them, Chang Yu: All the soldiers taken must be cared for with magnanimity and sincerity so that they may be used by us. 20. This is called 'winning a battle and becoming stronger. 21. Hence what is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations. And therefore the general who understands war is the Minister of the people's fate and the arbiter of the nation's destiny. Ho Yen-hsi: The difficulties in the appointment of a commander are the same today as they were in ancient times." The following excerpt is from pages 77 and 78 of The Art of War. "SUN TZU said: 1. Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this. Li Ch'uan: Do not put a premium on killing. 2. To capture the enemy's army is better than to destroy it; to take intact a battalion, a company or a five-man squad is better than destroy them. 3. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the eneny without fighting is the acme of skill. 4. Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy; Tu Mu: ... The Grand Duke said: 'He who excels at resolving difficulties does so before they arise. He who excels in conquering his enemies triumphs before threats materialize.' Li Ch'uan: Attack plans at their inception. In the Later Han, K'ou Hsun surrounded Kao Chun. Chun sent his Planning Officer, Huang-fu Wen, to parley. Huang-fu Wen was stubborn and rude and K'ou Hsun beheaded him, and informed Kao Chun: 'Your staff officer was without propriety. I have beheaded him. If you wish to submit, do so immediately. Otherwise defend yourself.' On the same day, Chun threw open his fortifications and surrendered. All K'ou Hsun's generals said: 'May we ask, you killed his envoy, but yet forced him to surrender his city. How is this?' K'ou Hsun said: 'Huang-fu Wen was Kao Chun's heart and guts, his intimate counsellor. If I had spared Huang-fu Wen's life, he would have accomplished his schemes, but when I killed him, Kao Chun lost his guts. It is said: "The supreme excellence in war is to attack the enemy's plans." All the generals said: 'This is beyond our comprehension.'" The following excerpt is from page 79 of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "10. Thus, those skilled in war subdue the enemy's army without battle. They capture his cities without assaulting them and overthrow his state without protracted operations. Li Ch'uan: They conquer by strategy. In the Later Han the Marquis of Tsan, Tsang Kung, surrounded by the "Yao' rebels at Yuan Wu, but during a succession of months was unable to take the city. His officers amd men were ill and covered with ulcers. The King of Tung Hai spoke to Tsang Kung, saying: 'Now you have massed troops and encircled the enemy, who is determined to fight to the death. This is no strategy! You should lift the siege. Let them know that an escape route is open and they will flee and disperse. Then any village constable will be able to capture them!' Tsang Kung followed this advice and took Yuan Wu. 11. Your aim must be to take All-under-Heaven intact. Thus your troops are not worn out and your gains will be complete. This is the art of offensive strategy." The following excerpt is from page 81 of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "18. Now the general is the protector of the state. If this protection is all-embracing, the state will surely be strong; if defective, the state will certainly be weak. Chang Yu: ...The Grand Duke said: 'A sovereign who obtains the right person prospers. One who fails to do so will be ruined.' 19. Now there are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune upon his army: 20. When ignorant the army should not advance, to order an advance or ignorant that it should not retire, to order a retirement. This is described as 'hobbling the army.' Chia Lin: The advance and retirement of the army can be controlled by the general in accordance with prevailing circumstances. No evil is greater than commands of the sovereign from the court. 21. When ignorant of military affairs, to participate in their administration. This causes the officers to be perplexed. Ts'ao Ts'ao: ... An army cannot be run according to rules of etiquette. Tu Mu: As far as propriety, laws, and decrees are concerned, the army has its own code, which it ordinarily follows. If these are made identical with those used in governing a state the officers will be bewildered. Chang Yu: Benevolence and righteousness may be used to govern a state but cannot be used to administer an army. Expediency and flexibility are used in administering an army, but cannot be used in governing a state." MY COMMENTS I believe a great deal of flexibility has to exist in military matters. I also believe a great deal of flexibility has to exist in administering a state. Many types of solutions should be used to solve problems. Problems should be attacked in many different ways. The ability to go from one strategy to another with ease should be an important component of the military as well as the running of a state. The laws of the state should be well known and simple to understand. The language the laws are written in should be able to be understood by a peopel who have a sixth grade level of education. Carrots and sticks should be used when running a state. Sometimes, the hammar should be used when running a state. A state should be willing to use the hammar against any citizen who deserves it. No citizen including the President of the United States of America should be above the Law. The following except is from pages 81 and 82 of The Art of War "22. When ignorant of command problems to share in the exercise of responsibilities. This engenders doubts in the minds of the officers. Wang Hsi:...If one ignorant of military matters is sent to participate in the administration of the army, then in every movement there will be disagreement and mutual frustration and the entiure army will be hamstrung. That is why Pei Tu memorialized the throne to withdraw the Army Supervisor; only then was he able to pacify Ts'ao Chou. Chang Yu: In recent times court officials have been used as Supervisors of the Army and this is precisely what is wrong." The following excerpt is from pages 82, 83, and 84 of The Art of War. "24. Now there are five circumstances in which victory may be predicted: 25. He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious. 26. He who understands how to use both large and small forces will be victorious. Tu Yu: There are circumstances in war when many cannot attack few, and others when the weak can master the strong. One able to manipulate such circumstances will be victorious. 27. He whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious. Tu Yu: Therefore, Mencius said: 'The appropriate season is not as important as the advantages of the ground; these are not as important as harmonious human relations.' 28. He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious. Ch'en Hao: Create an invincible army and await the enemy's moment of vulnerability. Ho Yen-hsi:... A gentleman said: 'To rely on rustics and not prepare is the greatest of crimes; to be prepared beforehand for any contingency is the greatest of virtues.' 29. He whose generals are able and not interfered with by the sovereign will be victorious. Tu Yu: ... Therefore Master Wang said: 'To make appointments is the province of the sovereign; to decide on battle, that of the general.' Wang Hsi:...A sovereign of high character and intelligence must be able to know the right man, should place the responsibility on him, and expect results. Ho Yen-hsi:... Now in war there may be one hundred changes in each step. When one sees he can, he advances; when he sees that things are difficult, he retires. To say that a general must await commands of the sovereign in such circumstances is like informing a superior that you wish to put out a fire. Before the order to do so arrives the ashes are cold. And it is said one must consult the Army Supervisor in these matters! This is as if in building a house beside the road one took advice from those who pass by. Of course the work would never be completed! To put a rein on an able general while at the same time asking him to suppress a cunning enemy is like tying up the Black Hound of Han and then ordering him tro catch elusive hares. What is the difference? 30. It is in these five matters that the way to victory is known. 31. Therefore I say: 'Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. 32. When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. 33. If ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.' Li Ch'uan: Such people are called 'mad bandits.' What can they expect if not defeat?" MY COMMENTS A knowledge of strategy as Sun Tzu says is extremely important. The War on Poverty has been a failure and a great waste of money because it has been poorly conducted. Our country should encourage people to work while helping them become highly educated. Our country should be encouraging people to be child care workers. Our country should be increasing the availability of birth control and improve the effectiveness of birth control to decrease the probability that people will have children when they are not willing to support them. Our country should be spending more money on pre-nursery school education, nursery school education, k-12 education, college education, and graduate education to decrease the probability that people will live in poverty. Our country should spend a lot more money on job training programs and allow people of all income levels to participate in the training. Members of poor families and middle-class families should be allowed to participate in job training programs and the government might want a person who participates in a job training program to pay higher taxes until the government loan has been repaid. A member of a wealthy family could pay to participate in the job training or pay a higher rate of taxation until the government loan is paid off. The government may also want to make it a lot easier for a member of a poor family, a middle class family, or a wealthy family to obtain college educations and graduate school educations and say that a person is able to repay the loans by paying a higher rate of taxation until the loans are repaid. Our War on Drugs has been a massive failure that has infringed on many of the Bill of Rights because instead of attacking DEMAND in smart ways the War on Drugs has gone after civil liberties and supply destruction. The regulation of supply, a type of education which works to lessen demand, well-run drug rehabilitation centers, and mental health counseling and prescription drugs for people who need the help will help to reduce the demand for harmful drugs. A smart leader should know the leader's weaknesses and strengths well. A smart leader who knows the leader well should have no problem discussing the leader's strengths and weaknesses. A leader who is willing to admit mistakes is more likely to be followed than a person who says the person has never made mistakes. A smart leader who discusses the leader's faults in detail before discussing the faults of others is more likely to be followed than a person who attacks the faults of others without first discussing the person's own fault. A smart leader wants the people and opponents to know many of the great authors who have helped to shape the leader and should not care if all the great authors in human history are studied by opponents because combat is more enjoyable when you fight a worthy foe. A smart leader knows the weaknesses and strengths of opponents and knows how to turn the weaknesses and strengths of opponents against opponents. A smart leader wants people to know the leader is usually truthful and usually ethical. A smart leader wants opponents to know the leader is not always truthful and ethical. A smart leader should know how to instill fear in the troops that belong to the opponent. A smart leader should be willing to say to the opponent's troops that "I am a better leader than the person who is leading you now, I will treat you better, and allow you to accomplish more for yourself and our country than the person you are following now. I would greatly appreciate your support once you realize you are following a lightweight and that you would be better off following an agile heavyweight which I am." The following excerpt is from pages 85 and 86 of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "SUN TZU said: 1. Anciently the skilful warriors first made themselves invincible and awaited the enemy's moment of vulnerability. 2. Invincibility depends on one's self; the enemy's vulnerability on him. 3. It follows that those skilled in war can make themselves invincible but cannot cause an enemy to be certainly vulnerable. Mei Yao-ch'en: That which depends on me, I can do; that which depends on the enemy cannot be certain. 4. Therefore it is said that one may know how to win, but cannot necessarily do so. 5. Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack. 6. One defends when his strength is inadequate; he attacks when it is abundant. 7. The experts in defence conceal themselves as under the ninefold earth; those skilled in attack move as from above the ninefold heavens. Thus they are capable both of protecting themselves and of gaining a complete victory. Tu Yu: Those expert at preparing defenses consider it fundamental to rely on the strength of such obstacles as mountains, rivers and foothills. They make it impossible for the enemy to know where to attack. They secretly conceal themselves as under the nine-layered ground. Those expert in attack consider it fundamental to rely on the seasons and the advantages of the ground; they use inundations and fire according to the situation. They make it impossible for an enemy to know where to prepare. They release the attack like a lightning boly from above the nine-layered heavens." MY COMMENTS Before you run for Congress, you should read the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the United States Constitution which may be found on the National Archives and Records Administration website which is http://www.nara.gov. I also highly recommend that people read the Art of War by Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, John Locke and The Federalist Papers. One of the main reasons I am discussing these works on my website is because my opponents knowledge of tactics and political thought is minimal. Competing against a foe that should have learned the basics of strategy and the basics of political thought before graduating from high school is not much of a challenge. The following excerpt is from pages 87, 88, and 89 of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "12. For he wins his victories without erring. 'Without erring means that whatever he does insures his victory; he conquers an enemy already defeated. Chen Hao: In planning, never a useless move; in strategy, no step taken in vain. 13. Therefore the skilful commander takes up a position in which he cannot be defeated and misses no opportunity to master his enemy. 14. Thus a victorious army wins its victories before seeking battle; an army destined to defeat fights in the hope of winning. Tu Mu:... Duke Li Cheng of Wai said: 'Now, the supreme requirements of generalship are a clear perception, the harmony of his host, a profound strategy coupled with far-reaching plans, an understanding of the seasons an an ability to examine the human factors. For a general unable to estimate his capabilities or comprehend the arts of expediency and flexibility when faced with the opportunity to engage the enemy will advance in a stumbling and hesistant manner, looking anxiously first to his right and then to his left, and be unable to produce a plan. Credulous, he will place confidence in unreliable reports, believing at one moment this and at another that. As timorous as a fox in advancing or retiring, his groups will be scattered about. What is the difference between this and driving innocent people into boiling water or fire? Is this not exactly like driving cows and sheep to feed wolves or tigers?' 15. Those skilled in war cultivate the Tao and preserve the laws and are therefore able to formulate victorious policies. Tu Mu: The Tao is the way of humanity and justice; 'laws' are regulations and institutions. Those who excel in war first cultivate their own humanity and justice and maintain their laws and institutions. By these means they make their governments invincible. 16. Now the elements of the art of war are first, measurement of space; second, estimation of quantities; third, calculations; fourth, comparisons; and fifth, chances of victory. 17. Measurement of space are derived from the ground. 18. Quantities derive from measurements, figures from quantities, comparisons from figures, and victory from comparisons. Ho Yen-hsi: 'Ground' includes both distances and type of terrain; 'measurement' is calculation. Before the army is dispatched, calculations are made respecting the degree of difficulty of the enemy's land; the directness and deviousness of its roads; the number of his troops; the quantity of his war equipment and the state of his morale. Calculations are made to see if the enemy can be attacked and only after this is the population mobilized and troops raised. 19. Thus a victorious army is as a hundredweight balanced against a grain; a defeated army as a grain balanced against a hundredweight. 20. It is because of disposition that a victorious general is able to make his people fight with the effect of pent-up waters which, suddenly released, plunged into a bottomless abyss. Chang Yu: The nature of water is that it avoids heights and hastens to the lowlands. When a dam is broken, the water cascades with irresistible force. Now the shape of an army resembles water. Take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness; attack him when he does not expect it; avoid his strength and strike his emptiness, and like water, none can oppose you." MY COMMENTS A smart leader is willing to break an opponents dams that protect an opponents strategies and power base while making sure any water from the dam coming towards the smart leader flows the way the leader wants the water to flow via dikes and other barriers. A smart leader is willing to tear an opponent a part when the opponent does something very illegal and or says something very stupid. A lightweight should always remember that when an agile heavyweight provides an opening for an attack to take place that the opening may be a carefully laid trap that may harm the lightweight much and benefit the agile heavyweight a great deal if the opening is used. The following quote is from pages 92 and 93 of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "14. When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing. Tu Yu: Strike the enemy as swiftly as a falcon strikes its target. It surely breaks the back of its prey for the reason that it awaits the right moment to strike. Its movement is regulated. 15. Thus the momentum of one skilled in war is overwhelming, and his attack precisely regulated. 16. His potential is that of a full drawn crossbow; his timimg, the release of the trigger. 17. In the tumult and uproar of battle seems chaotic, but there is no disorder; the troops appear to be milling about in cirles but cannot be defeated. Li Ch'uan: In battle all appears to be turmoil and confusion. But the flags and banners have prescribed arrangements; the sounds of the cymbals, fixed rules. 18. Apparent confusion is a product of good order; apparent cowardice, or courage; apparent weakness, of strength. Tu Mu: The verse means that if one wishes to feign disorder to entice an enemy he must himself be well-disciplined. Only then can he feign confusion. One who wishes to simulate cowardice and lie in wait for his enemy must be courageous, for only then is he able to simulate fear. One who wishes to appear to be weak in order to make his enemy arrogant must be extremely strong. Only then can he feign weakness." MY COMMENTS Always keep opponents guessing about some of your motives and some of your tactics. Be willing to show signs of weakness on some days and some days show signs of strength. If you have a sense of humour like I do, you may wish to go back and forth between the two on the same day. For me, politics is the most important game of all and also the funniest game of all. If you have read several Greek tragedy comedies, I think you will know what I mean. Before 1980, I thought I would be dead before I turned 30 years of age probably in an accident. In 1980, a friend of mine who I thought would accomplish more in his life than what 10 normal people could accomplish in their lives was murdered by a drunk driver. His death was the greatest shock of my life. After his death, I realized I could die on any given day. I also realized that my family and friends could die at anytime and I could do nothing about it. I learned to laugh at myself and the stupid things I sometimes do. I take some things far more seriously than I should. The following excerpt is from page 93 of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "19. Order or disorder depends on organization; courage or cowardice on circumstances; strength or weakness on dispositions. Li Ch'uan: Now when troops gain a favourable situation the coward is brave; if it be lost, the brave become cowards. In the art of war there are no fixed rules. These can only be worked out according to circumstances. 20. Thus, those skilled at making move do so by creating a stituation to which he must conform; they entice him with something he is certain to take, and with lures of ostensible profit they await him in strength. 21. Therefore a skilled commander seeks victory from the situation and does not demand it of his subordinates. Ch'en Hao: Experts in war depend especially on opportunity and expediency. They do not place the burden of accomplishment on their men alone." MY COMMENTS Know how to go with the flow. Know how to break the back of the flow and make the flow do what you want it to do when you want it to do it. Timing in well-done comedy routines is an example of this. The movie Rat Race has two examples of this. I laughed extremely hard during two skits. I had not laughed that hard in years. Be prepared for the unexpected. Know how to laugh at yourself when you screw up big time. Know how to use humour to lessen the probability that fighting will occur. If you are always serious, fighting is far more likely. Be willing to turn the other cheak when it is appropriate. The following excerpt is from page 95 of The Art of War. "24. He who relies on the situation uses his men in fighting as one rolls logs or stones. Now the nature of logs and stones is that on stable ground they are static; on unstable ground, they move. If square, they stop; if round, they roll. 25. Thus, the potential of troops skilfully commanded in battle may be compared to that of round boulders which roll down from mountain heights. Tu Mu:... Thus one need but little strength to achieve much. Chang Yu:... Li Ching said: 'In war there are three kinds of situation. 'When the general is contemptuous of his enemy and his officers love to fight, their ambitions soaring as high as the azure clouds and their spirits as fierce as hurricanes, this is situation in respect to morale. 'When one man defends a narrow mountain defile which is like sheep's intestines or the door of a dog-house, he can withstand one thousand. This is situation in respect to terrain. 'When one takes advantage of the enemy's laxity, his weariness, his hunger and thirst, or strikes when his advanced camps are not settled, or his army is only half-way across a river, this is situation in respect to the enemy.' Therefore when using troops, one must take advantage of the situation exactly as if he were setting a ball in motion on a steep slope. The force applied is minute but the results are enormous." The following excerpt is from pages 96 and 97 of The Art of War. "SUN TZU said: 1. Generally, he who occupies the field of battle first and awaits his enemy is at ease; he who comes later to the scene and rushes into the fight is weary. 2. And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him. 3. One able to make the enemy come of his own accord does so by offering him some advantage. And one able to prevent him from coming does so by hurting him. Tu Yu:...If you are able to hold critical points on his strategic roads the enemy cannot come. Therefore Master Wang said: 'When a cat is at the rat hole, ten thousand rats dare not come out; when a tiger guards the ford, ten thousand deer cannot cross.' 4. When the enemy is at ease, be able to weary him; when well fed, to starve him; when at rest, to make him move. 5. Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you. 6. That you may march a thousand li without wearing yourself is because you travel where there is no enemy. Ts'ao Ts'ao: Go into emptiness, strikes voids, bypass what he defends, hit him where he does not expect you. 7. To be certain to take what you attack is to attack a place the enemy does not protect. To be certain to hold what you defend is to defend a place the enemy does not attack. 8. Therefore, against those skilled in attack, an enemy does not know where to defend; againts the experts in defence, the enemy does not know where to attack. 9. Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace; divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is master of his enemy's fate. Ho Yen-hsi:... I make the enemy see my strengths as weaknesses and my weaknesses as strengths while I cause his strengths to become weaknesses and discover where he is not strong... I conceal my tracks so that none can discern them; I keep silence so that none can hear me." The following excerpt is from pages 98 and 99 of The Art of War. "14. The enemy must not know where I intend to give battle. For if he does not know where I intend to give battle he must prepare in a great many places. And when he prepares in a great many places, those I have to fight in any one place will be few. 15. For if he prepares to the front his rear will be weak, and if to the rear, his front will be fragile. If he prepares to the left, his right will be vulnerable and if to the right, there will be few on his left. And when he prepares everywhere he will be weak everywhere. Chang Yu: He will be unable to fathom where my chariots will actually go out, or where my cavalry will actually come from, or where my infantry will actually follow up, and therefore he will disperse and divide and will have to guard against me everywhere. Consequently his force will be scattered and weakened and his strength divided and dissipated, and at the place I engage him I can use a large host against his isolated units." The following excerpt is from pages 100 and 101. "19. Thus I say that victory can be created. For even if the enemy is numerous, I can prevent him from engaging. Chia Lin: Although the enemy be numerous, if he does not know my military situation, I can always make him urgently attend to his own preparations so that he has no leisure to plan to fight me. 20. Therefore, determine the enemy's plans and you will know which strategy will be successful and which will not; 21. Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement. 22. Determine his dispositions and so ascertain the field of battle. 23. Probe him and learn where his strength is abundant and where deficient. 24. The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you. 25. It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see the outward aspects, none understands the way in which I have created victory. 26. Therefore, when I have won a victory I do not repeat my tactics but respond to circumstances in an infinite variety of ways. 27. Now an army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water avoids the heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids strength and strikes weakness. 28. And as water shapes its flow in accordance with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the situation of the enemy. 29. And as water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions. 30. Thus, one able to gain the victory by modifying his tactics in accordance with the enemy situation may be said to be divine. 31. Of the five elements, none is always predominant; of the four seasons, none lasts forever; of the days, some are long and some short, and the moon waxes and wanes." I discuss Sun Tzu more on Part Two of Sun Tzu.