Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 2 · Waging War · 作戰

Passage 2-3

夫鈍兵, 挫銳, 屈力, 殫貨, 則諸侯乘其弊而起, 雖有智者, 不能善其後矣!

When weapons are dulled, spirits dampened, strength exhausted, and resources depleted—rival states will exploit these weaknesses. Then, even the wisest counsel cannot restore the situation.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 2-3:

Open: Stay Connected Passage 11-13 敢問:「敵衆整而將來, 待之若何?」曰:「先奪其所愛, 則聽... 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... Consolidate the Victory Passage 12-5 火發上風, 無攻下風. 晝風久, 夜風止. 凡軍必知有五火之... Preserving the Whole Passage 3-1 孫子曰, 凡用兵之法, 全國爲上, 破國次之; 全軍爲上, ... Invincibility First Passage 4-1 孫子曰: 昔之善戰者, 先爲不可勝, 以侍敵之可勝. 不可勝... No Profit, No Move Passage 12-7 夫戰勝攻取, 而不修其功者凶, 命曰費留. 故曰: 明主慮之...

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 2-4: 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... Passage 2-12: In war, victory is paramount—not prolongation. The general who understands war i...