Chapter 7 · Armed Struggle · 軍爭

Passage 7-14

故三軍可奪氣, 將軍可奪心. 是故朝氣銳, 晝氣惰, 暮氣歸; 故善用兵者, 避其銳氣, 擊其惰歸, 此治氣者也. 以治待亂, 以靜待譁, 此治心者也. 以近待遠, 以佚待勞, 以飽待飢, 此治力者也. 無邀正正之旗, 勿擊堂堂之陣, 此治變者也.

The army’s spirit (qì) can be seized; the general’s heart can be stolen. Morning spirit is keen; midday spirit is sluggish; evening spirit yearns for home. The skilled warrior avoids keen spirit and strikes when it is sluggish or homeward-bound—this is mastering spirit. Await disorder with order; await clamor with calm—this is mastering the heart. Await the distant with the near; await the weary with the rested; await the hungry with the well-fed—this is mastering strength. Do not intercept orderly flags; do not attack imposing formations—this is mastering adaptation.

What does this passage really mean for modern strategy?

Ask Sun →

Explore Further

These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 7-14:

Fire and Water Combined Passage 12-6 故以火佐攻者明, 以水佐攻者强. 水可以絶, 不可以奪. Managing the Many Passage 5-1 孫子曰: 凡治衆如治寡, 分數是也. 鬪衆如鬪寡, 形名是也... Responding to Nine Changes Passage 11-20 故善用兵者, 譬如率然; 率然者, 常山之蛇也, 擊其首, ... Striking the Empty Passage 5-3 故善出奇者, 無窮如天地, 不竭如江河, 終而復始, 日月是... Changing Plans to Confuse Passage 11-24 將軍之事, 靜以幽, 正以治, 能愚士卒之耳目, 使之無知. Apparent Disorder from Order Passage 5-6 紛紛紜紜, 鬪亂, 而不可亂也. 渾渾沌沌, 形圓, 而不可...

More from Chapter 7: Armed Struggle (軍爭)

Passage 7-1: Sun Tzu said: In military operations, after the general receives orders from the... Passage 7-2: The difficulty of armed contention is making the circuitous direct and turning a... Passage 7-3: Move the entire army to contend for advantage—you cannot arrive in time. Abandon... Passage 7-4: Therefore, if you roll up armor and race day and night without rest, covering do... Passage 7-5: Racing fifty li for advantage, the lead commander falls, and half arrive. Racing... Passage 7-6: An army without equipment perishes. Without provisions, it perishes. Without sto... Passage 7-7: Without knowing the designs of neighboring rulers, you cannot forge alliances. W... Passage 7-8: Warfare is founded on deception, driven by advantage, and transformed through di... Passage 7-9: Therefore: - Swift as the wind - Silent as the forest - Ravenous as fire - Immov... Passage 7-10: Plunder the countryside to divide spoils among troops. Expand territory to share... Passage 7-11: The Military Administration states: “When words cannot be heard, use drums and g... Passage 7-12: Drums, gongs, flags, and banners unify the eyes and ears of the troops. Once uni... Passage 7-13: In night battles, use many torches and drums. In day battles, use many flags and... Passage 7-15: Principles of warfare: - Do not advance uphill against the enemy - Do not oppose...