If conflict is unavoidable, force your enemy to fight on your terms. Target their Achilles heel. Make the war cheap for you and ruinous for them.
When an object tempts you, it reveals your bigotry and narrow-mindedness. You focus on the likely advantages and barely see the trials ahead.
When things go wrong, you grow depleted. Flaws emerge. New, unplanned difficulties arise, leading to further losses and sacrifices.
The stronger your desire for the reward, the more carefully you must examine what it demands. Beyond obvious costs, account for the invisible ones: the goodwill you might squander, the bitterness of defeated rivals, the time it will take, the strain on your allies, and more.
History is littered with the corpses of men who ignored the true cost of their ventures. Guard yourself against unnecessary conflict if you want to avoid their fate.
When battle grows tedious and eagerness fades, when strength and resources are drained, your enemy will regroup and strike. Even smart commanders struggle to reverse the collapse once it begins.
The true master of war wins where victory is easy.
To be unfailing is to act only when success is certain, and to defeat enemies already weakened.
A fundamental law of war: attack weaknesses with your strengths.
No force is entirely powerful or entirely weak. Every army, no matter how formidable, has flaws; every weak force has hidden strengths. Even size can be a vulnerability.
Force your enemy to reveal their weaknesses. Fatigue will expose even more. New cracks open the way for you to dominate. By knowing both your strengths and limits, you can destroy any enemy.
Don’t assume abundance guarantees success. Excess often creates its own poverty. It’s not what you have that matters, but how you use it.
True protection is good judgment. It means having the strength to say “No,” even when “Yes” would seem generous. And to say “No” sparingly, but firmly.
The true warrior focuses on what he controls—his skills, his tools—and uses them creatively. By adapting to time and circumstance with foresight, he outlasts his enemies and wins the long game.
A good plan without the means to execute it is worthless. Start with what you have. Hannibal triumphed because he understood reality: his army, his enemy, the land, the weather. He adapted his goals to fit his means. Versatility is constant adjustment.
Spiteful intentions spoil excellence. Knowledge, used bitterly, only deepens the harm.
The clever player never moves the expected piece—and never the piece his opponent hopes for.
All things praised too highly at first tend to fall short and invite disappointment.
The daring endure hardship, and by their goodness and bravery, they meet fortune and are crowned with victory.
Keep a stock of witty sayings and heroic tales, and know when to use them. A well-timed joke wins more hearts than a stiff lecture.
The secret to persuasion is knowing what people value most. If you know a person’s burning need, you hold the key to their will.
Study their character, speak to their obsession, and you will control their strongest emotions. This is the surest path to ruling their will.
Passion brings significance. Touched by greatness, it creates monumental power.
The discreet avoid drawing attention to themselves, even when acting nobly. The wise command respect without grasping for it. If you beg for attention among the wise, you expose yourself as a fool.
Know which cards to play. The cheapest card that wins today is worth more than the expensive one that failed yesterday.
To give pleasure to others is the highest virtue of kings. It wins trust and lasting loyalty.
Goodwill isn’t enough. Make sure no one blocks your progress.
And above all: never mistreat your friends. Don’t demand from them what they are unwilling to give.
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