Wise generals know how to deploy their armies against inferior and superior forces, how to make good use of officers’ personality strengths, and how to inspire the men. Direct fighting is a lesser choice, and an extended siege is the worst option. Instead of engaging in direct fighting, it is best to win by frustrating the enemy’s war plans or at least preventing its armies from massing. Instead, it should forage on the food of the country it invades, capture weaponry from the enemy and use it against them, and treat kindly any prisoners so that they might be induced to join the invaders. War is costly, and an army shouldn’t depend on its own country to feed it, especially during a long campaign, lest it bankrupt the state. Strategists must take all these factors into account, and they must deceive the enemy about their strengths and weaknesses. Five main factors affect a war’s outcome: the quality of the ruler, weather, terrain, military leadership, and the state of the army. The Art of War begins with a warning: War is highly risky and must be considered carefully. The celebrated 1910 version translated by Lionel Giles, with annotations, appears in a 2016 eBook edition published by Coterie Classics it forms the basis for this study guide. Widely available in the public domain, The Art of War boasts several English translations. Trial attorneys are known to use the work’s tactics in court. The book remains especially popular among business leaders, who apply its tenets to their marketplace strategies and tactics. The principles expounded in The Art of War also apply in other areas of intense competition, such as politics, business, and sports.
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