Chapter 8 · Nine Changes · 九變

Passage 8-6

是故智者之慮, 必雜於利害, 雜於利而務可信也, 雜於害而患可解也.

The wise consider both advantage and disadvantage. By weighing advantage within disadvantage, their endeavors become reliable. By weighing disadvantage within advantage, their difficulties can be resolved.

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These passages from other chapters connect to the themes in Passage 8-6:

The Five Fundamental Factors Passage 1-2 故經之以五事, 校之以計, 而索其情. 一曰道, 二曰天, ... Assessing Advantage Passage 1-9 故校之以七計, 而塞其情. 曰: 主孰有道, 將孰有能, 天... Favorable Conditions Passage 1-10 將聽吾計, 用之必勝, 留之; 將不聽吾計, 用之必敗, 去... 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.... Command Without Numbers Passage 9-19 兵非益多也, 惟無武進, 足以倂力料敵, 取人而已. 夫惟無... Turning the Indirect into Direct Passage 7-2 軍爭之難者, 以迂爲直, 以患爲利. 故迂其途, 而誘之以利...

More from Chapter 8: Nine Changes (九變)

Passage 8-1: Sun Tzu said: In warfare, the general receives orders from the sovereign, mobili... Passage 8-2: On difficult ground, do not encamp On intersecting ground, form alliances On iso... Passage 8-3: Some roads should not be traveled Some armies should not be attacked Some cities... Passage 8-4: The general who masters the advantages of the nine variations understands warfar... Passage 8-5: A commander who does not understand the methods of the nine variations cannot ge... Passage 8-7: Subdue other rulers through harm Employ them through tasks Move them through adv... Passage 8-8: In warfare, do not rely on the enemy not coming—rely on being prepared. Do not r... Passage 8-9: Five dangers for a general: 1. Recklessness—he can be killed 2. Cowardice—he can...