“The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch'ang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.”
This seminal work explores the principles of warfare, leadership, and conflict resolution, offering timeless insights into the nature of power and the art of winning battles without resorting to brute force. more
Sun Tzu, born around 544 BC and died around 496 BC, was a renowned Chinese military strategist. His military thoughts are mainly reflected in his book 'The Art of War', which is considered the classic of military strategy and has had a profound impact on various fields such as military, politics, and economics in later generations. more
“Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men.”
“Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity.”
“They [spies] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness.”
“Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.”
“Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.”