If conflict is unavoidable, pressure them to wage war according to your conditions. Take aim at their Achilles heel and make the war economical for you and costly for them.
If the object is tempting, what you see is your bigotry and narrow-mindedness. You discern more of the likely advantages and scarcely the likely trials and tribulations.
When things go south, you grow depleted; that engenders flaws and then novel, unplanned difficulties, in turn engendering new losses and sacrifices.
The more you desire the final reward, the more you shall atone by scrutinizing what it entails. Apart from the evident expenses, consider the impalpable costs; the benevolence you may misspend, the fierceness and rage of the defeated loser following your victory, the required duration to triumph over your enemy, your obligations with your partners, etc.
The past is muddled with the carcasses of men who paid no attention to the expenses of their exploits. Guard yourself against unneeded conflicts if you don’t want to fall prey to ignorance.
When arms turn tedious and eagerness enervated, our power used up and assets devoured; our adversaries exploit our fatigue to straighten up and make headway. And ultimately, in such a state of affairs, even in the company of intelligent commanders, it is improbable that things will take a conclusive good turn.
The man whom the ancients regarded a master in war procured success where success was effortlessly earned.
To be unfailing means to take action where triumph is unquestionable and assured, and to defeat a foe who has already suffered a great loss.
A most fundamental dictum of war: assail their weakness with your stong points.
No individual or crowd is wholly powerful or inadequate. Every fighting force, irrespective of how apparently invulnerable, has a defect; an assailable or unfortified aspect. Ultimately, largeness can prove to be a deficiency – and even the most feeble force has a concealed advantage.
Compelling them to uncover their deficiencies to capitalize on them will unnerve their spirit. As they become fatigued, more weaknesses will be revealed, in turn new opportunities to take the lead. By heedfully attuning to your frailty and vigour, you have the capacity to demolish your enemy.
Don’t be quick to presume that a profusion of resources will make you prosperous. Paradoxically, it can often achieve the opposite effect; rousing a kind of poverty from excess. It is not, then, how much you have, but what you do with it that ultimately matters.
The conventional word for a protective ability is good discernment. It’s vitally important, not only to have the ability to say ‘No’ when ‘Yes’ is an act of altruism, but to say ‘No’ sporadically.
The true warrior fixes on what’s in his sway, the forte he has and that he ought to creatively employ to his benefit. By adapting and attending to time and situation by a degree of foresight, he outlives his enemies and wins the long game.
A commander may have the finest plan of action to carry off a postive end, but if he lacks the resources to fulfil it, his game plan is useless. You must, then, inspect your immediate means and establish a reasonable plan out of what you have. Hannibal was a great general because he had remarkable foresight and contemplated, first and foremost, of his immediate reality; the body of his army and his enemy’s, the given territory, the weather, and so on. This laid out the footing, not only for his attack plan, but ultimately for the object he sought to fulfil. Constant adjustment of ends to means is imperative to versatility.
Spiteful intentionality contaminates excellence. Helped by understanding, it injures with deeper ingenuity.
The shrewd player doesn’t move the predicted piece, and certainly not the one they hope for.
All things praised highly at the start are usually disproved when they fall short of one’s expectations.
Sharply daring, they endure hardship, and by their goodness and bravery, they draw level with fortune and honour her with victory.
Have a repertoire of humorous proverbs and heroic exploits, and be discerning enough to know when to employ them to good effect. For a funny story, not a scrupulous lecture, is the finest means to propose guidance.
The trick to persuading people consists in realizing what they venerate. If you know a person’s pressing urge, you have the essential key to their desire.
Work out their character, talk about their obsession, then reign over their impelling emotion – an unfailing prescription that always conquers their will.
Passion brings significance, and when brushed by supreme nobility, monumental importance.
The discreet should avoid calling attention to themselves, even in high-principled occupations and especially in disreputable callings. The diplomatic man does not look around for courtesy, he commands it but does not clasp it. So, learn from the canny, if you’re fishing for attention in the wise man’s neighbourhood, you’re nothing more than a fool who laid himself bare among your superiors.
The trick is to be conscious of which cards to dispose, for the cheapest card that currently comes out ahead is worthier than the priciest one of an earlier game.
To give pelasure to another is to the king’s praise, a characteristic that allows rulers to acquire ubiquitous esteem.
Voluntary intervention is not sufficient; more importantly, ensure that others don’t obstruct your transactions.
Friends are not to be mistreated. You shouldn’t need from them that which they are unwilling to give up.
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