#Bobok summary how to#

“If they will face death, there is nothing they will not achieve.”.“Make your way by unexpected routes and attack unguarded spots.”.“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our readiness to receive him.”.“It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.”.“A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.”.“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”.“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move fall like a thunderbolt.”.So, in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.” For water, in its natural course, runs away from high places and hastens downwards. “You can be sure in succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”.“An army may march great distances without distress if it marches through country where the enemy is not.”.“In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack: the direct and indirect.”.“In war, the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.”.

#Bobok summary how to#

“One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.”.

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.”

He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who’s army is animated by the same spirit throughout all it’s ranks. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

“There are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

“The worst strategy of all is to besiege walled cities.”.

“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”.

One cartload of the enemy's provisions is equivalent to twenty of one's own.”

“A wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy.

“There is no instance of a country having benefitted from prolonged warfare.”.

“The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.”.

“If he is superior in strength, evade him.”.

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”.

When far away we must make the enemy believe we are near.” When we are near we make the enemy believe we are far away.

When using our forces we must seem inactive. Hence when able to attack we must seem unable. “According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.”.This summary also includes key lessons and important passages from the book. My notes are informal and often contain quotes from the book as well as my own thoughts. This is my book summary of The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

Know your strengths and weaknesses: if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. Know how to deceive the enemy: appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. Know when to fight and when not to fight: avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.