Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 2 · Waging War · 作戰

Passage 2-12

故兵貴勝, 不貴久. 故知兵之將, 民之司命, 國家安危之主也.

In war, victory is paramount—not prolongation. The general who understands war is the arbiter of the people’s fate and the master of the nation’s security.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 2-12:

Terrain as Ally Passage 10-14 故戰道必勝, 主曰無戰; 必戰可也. 戰道不勝, 主曰必戰,... Knowing Terrain Alone Is Not Enough Passage 10-13 夫地形者 兵之助也. 料敵制勝, 計險阨遠近, 上將之道也.... Subduing Without Battle Passage 3-7 故善用兵者, 屈人之兵而非戰也; 拔人之城而非攻也; 毁人之... Flexible Response Passage 8-4 故將通於九變之利者, 知用兵矣. 將不通于九變之利, 雖知地... Swiftness of Decision Passage 11-35 是故政舉之日, 夷關折符, 無通其使, 厲於廊廟之上, 以誅... Command (將) Passage 1-6 將者, 智‧信‧仁‧勇‧嚴也.

More from Chapter 2: Waging War (作戰)

Passage 2-1: Sun Tzu said: The requirements for military operations include: a thousand swift... Passage 2-2: In conducting war, if victory is long delayed, weapons grow dull and morale decl... Passage 2-3: When weapons are dulled, spirits dampened, strength exhausted, and resources dep... Passage 2-4: I have heard of military operations that were clumsy but swift; I have never wit... Passage 2-5: One who does not fully comprehend the harm of warfare cannot fully appreciate it... Passage 2-6: The skillful strategist does not draft twice or transport provisions three times... Passage 2-7: The impoverishment of a state by military operations stems from long-distance tr... Passage 2-8: Proximity to the army causes prices to rise; rising prices exhaust the people’s ... Passage 2-9: The people’s resources are reduced by seventy percent. Public expenditures—for d... Passage 2-10: Therefore, the wise general ensures his army feeds on the enemy. One measure of ... Passage 2-11: Killing the enemy requires anger; seizing their resources requires reward. In ch...