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The Annotated Art of War (Parts 10.21-24: Applied Intelligence)

 

Disciplines > Warfare > The Annotated Art of War > Parts 10.21-24: Applied Intelligence

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X. Terrain

 

Sun Tzu said: Commentary
21. The natural formation of the country is the soldier's best ally; but a power of estimating the adversary, of controlling the forces of victory, and of shrewdly calculating difficulties, dangers and distances, constitutes the test of a great general.

There are many variables in war. The general who understands and makes use of these increases the chance of victory.

Failure is often a result of failing to address such factors, of not including them in calculations or making poor assumptions rather than seeking clear intelligence.

War is hence more of a science than an intuitive art.

There is much science also in business. Whilst there is room for qualitative analysis and decision-making, a quantitative foundation is always a sound approach.

22. He who knows these things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated. You not only need to know things, you have to use them in the right way. Both of these steps have to be made. History is littered with failures to understand and failures to apply what is understood.
23. If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding. Whilst it is important to obey commanders, the final choice has to be made on the battlefield where officers have fuller knowledge of the situation.

Officers in the field hence have a great responsibility to do what is right to achieve the overall victory. It is important that this is permitted and officers trained to make such decisions correctly.

24. The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom. When personal ambition and seeking of glory or promotion takes precedence, the higher goals of victory are lost.

The greatest generals are those who are driven first by higher goals, to serve their rulers and their country.

 

 

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Site Menu

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Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

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Please help and share:

 

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Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

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