Sun Tzu Decoded
Chapter 5 · Strategic Momentum · 兵勢

Passage 5-8

故善動適者, 形之, 適必從之; 予之, 適必取之; 以利動之, 以卒待之.

The skilled manipulator presents appearances that the enemy must follow, offers what the enemy must seize. He moves the enemy with prospects of advantage while positioning forces to await them.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 5-8:

Subjugate Without Fighting Passage 8-7 是故屈諸侯者以害, 役諸侯者以業, 趨諸侯者以利. Manipulating Appearances Passage 1-13 利而誘之, 亂而取之, 實而備之, 强而避之, 怒而橈之, ... Formlessness Passage 6-9 故形人而我無形, 則我專而敵分. 我專爲一, 敵分爲十, 是... Sealing Enemy's Plans Passage 11-36 先其所愛, 微與之期, 賤墨隨敵, 以決戰事. 是故始如處女... First to the Battlefield Passage 6-1 孫子曰, 凡先處戰地而待敵者佚, 後處戰地而趨戰者勞. 故善... Irresistible Advance Passage 6-4 守而必固者, 守其所不攻也. 故善攻者, 敵不知其所守; 善...

More from Chapter 5: Strategic Momentum (兵勢)

Passage 5-1: Sun Tzu said: - Managing many is like managing few—a matter of organization - Fi... Passage 5-2: In all warfare: Engage with the orthodox; achieve victory with the extraordinary... Passage 5-3: Those skilled in the extraordinary are infinite as heaven and earth, inexhaustib... Passage 5-4: The rush of torrential waters that sweeps away boulders—this is momentum (shì). ... Passage 5-5: Therefore, the skilled warrior’s momentum is overwhelming, his timing precise. M... Passage 5-6: Amidst tumult and chaos, fight without disorder. Amidst confusion and formlessne... Passage 5-7: Disorder arises from order; cowardice arises from courage; weakness arises from ... Passage 5-9: The skilled warrior seeks victory through momentum, not through individual soldi... Passage 5-10: One who uses momentum deploys troops like rolling logs and stones. On stable gro... Passage 5-11: The momentum of skilled warriors is like a round boulder rolling down a thousand...