CONQUER YOUR DAY Sun Tzu Quotes 5 Minutes of Morning Motivation

If you know the enemy, and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one's plans. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. The skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible. The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline. Thus, it is in his power to control success. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack, the direct and the indirect. Yet these two, in combination, give rise to an endless series of maneuvers. All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable. When using our forces, we must seem inactive. When we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away. When far away, we must make him believe we are near. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder, and yet no real disorder at all. Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline. Simulated fear postulates courage. Simulated weakness postulates strength. The clever combatants looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals. Hence, his ability to pick out the right men, and utilize combined energy. The energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. Whoever is first in the field, and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight. Whoever is second in the field, and has to hasten to battle, will arrive exhausted. Therefore, the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him. You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks, if you only attack places which are undefended. You can assure the safety of your defense, if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. Hence, that general is skillful in attack, whose opponent does not know what to defend, and he is skillful in defense, whose opponent does not know what to attack. Knowing the place and the time of the coming battle, we may concentrate from the greatest distances in order to fight. Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances. Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows. The soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent, and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain. The five elements—water, fire, wood, metal, earth—are not always equally predominant. The four seasons make way for each other in turn. There are short days and long. The moon has its periods of waning and waxing. In raining and plundering, be like fire. In immovability, like a mountain. Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt. Ponder and deliberate before you make a move. He will conquer who has learnt the artifice of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering.