War: The ultimate male aphrodisiac. Nothing has captivated the mind of man more throughout the millennia than the applied use of force. Sure, women captivate men, but most times the women come after the war, rarely before. War is the ultimate distillation of life: kill or be killed. General Douglas MacArthur in a speech at West Point said, “Yours is the profession of arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in war, there is no substitute for victory.”
If war is such an important part of the human condition it is important to know how to wage it successfully. There are thousands of books on the subject, it seems that every courtier, and effeminate writer needing to raise his testosterone quotient has written on the subject. However, these all pale in comparison to a short simple book written 2,500 years ago. Sun Tzu’s Art of War is the distillation of strategy, deception, and leadership that stands the test of time.
Those who are willing to study and apply the knowledge of this great book will be victorious in their endeavors. It is a simple enough book to read, it can be done in an afternoon for even the most lachrymose reader. But one reading is not enough to glean all the valuable wisdom locked inside the words. Some things will shock the reader, e.g. all warfare is based on deception (I.18.) However, upon closer examination this is known to be true.
Where this book really shines is in the depiction of strategy and leadership of generals. In fact, this handbook is written for generals, not the soldiers or the kings of history. The general is the man that actually wages war, and makes the life or death decisions that affect his men, his country, and history. The military strategist is a rare creature indeed, but when they are discovered in history they are deadly effective.
There is required for the composition of a great commander not only massive common sense and reasoning power, not only imagination, but also an element of legerdemain, an original and sinister tough, which leaves the enemy puzzled as well as beaten. Winston Churchill, The World Crisis (1923)
Sun Tzu argues for vast amounts of preparation before war. In fact that is the only way to win. “Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory (II.15.)” This rule is helpful in realizing that it is not wise to leap without looking. Great generals have their battles planned out so well in advance that they fear no battle they engage in. They see all the options, all the angles, and are always willing to mix things up.
“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard (IV.7.)” The beautiful simplicity of this statement echoes to the reader that with concerted effort and variation of tactics anything can be accomplished. One must merely look for the advantages in all obstacles.
To truly succeed as a general though requires a deep understanding of both oneself and the enemy.
“If 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 (III.18.)”
These words seem foolhardy and egotistical at first glance. How can one guarantee success in this crazy world we live in with so many variables and things that can go wrong. But knowing everything about oneself and the things that will affect is a sign of a well-ordered and humble mind. Knowing and understanding the enemy one is facing means that one has looked outside him to see the true picture of the world around him. He has taken the ego out of the equation.
How can a general accomplish the goals he has set for himself? How does he beat another man who is trying to do the same to him? Through the use of deception a general succeeds. “…that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack (VI.8.)” A general must be like water, always filling the form of the vessel that holds him. Using all the avenues around him to his advantage. “In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed. Move only if there is a real advantage to be gained (VII.15)”
How can a general know that his deceptions are working, and what his enemy is doing? He uses spies of every sort. Sun Tzu argued that war is an expensive endeavor (something everyone can agree on,) so the use of money to acquire spies that can end the engagement quickly is an expense that pays dividends. Being able to use spies effectively is important, and their management must be direct and generous. They are the most valuable genius of the general. They give him all of the information he could ever need to win.
It is important however to keep utmost secrecy with the use of spies, as it is the nature of their business. But if one is subtle with the art of espionage, spies can be utilized for every kind of endeavor and greatly augment the chances of success.
As “there is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare (II.6,)” it is important that the general of an army be able to lead his men effectively. He must be a great leader. His men must love him or he is to be doomed, as the men of a leader reflect the leader himself. “Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death (X.25.)” This is the way to great leadership. The general is the ultimate arbiter of a soldier’s life, if they do not trust this man they are not willing to go forth boldly into battle for him. One must therefore respect the men/women underneath oneself, and not act the tyrant lest they lose the war.
There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: (1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction; (2) cowardice, which leads to capture; (3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; (4) a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame; (5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble (VIII.12.)
If one can cultivate the opposite of these characteristics, they are well on their way to success and leadership. These are characteristics one must cultivate over time and not give up. This may be difficult to accomplish, but the rewards are worth the effort. Leadership is the one trait honored by all men, and if one is a great leader, one is great before all men.
As you go about your life, and face the many day-to-day battles we all face. Remember this:
The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made out position unassailable (VIII.11.)
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