The Art of War | Sun Tzu

Son Tzu was able to confirm through his book: The Art of War— which was considered the Bible in military studies—that it is impossible to predict in advance the fate of a battle, or to anticipate what events may occur during it; or what surprises may emerge. This necessarily calls for the commander to rely on flexible military strategies and plans. Therefore, Tzu was able to convince his soldiers that war is thought and art; not fighting and bloodshed. Son Tzu believed that the ideal leader deserving his position is the one who knows how to combine firmness of stance and steadfastness on principles, with flexibility and gentleness when necessary. He is the leader in whom leadership is embodied, transforming hardships into gains. The outstanding leader, in his view, is the one who can make his followers a united and cohesive body. Also, the smart leader, according to Son Tzu, is the one who considers the overall capacity, takes into account individual talents, and uses each person according to their ability, as perfection is not expected from the unskilled. It is worth mentioning that Son Tzu possessed the spirit of a warrior knight who does not know humiliation, abasement, or surrender. This is evident from his biography; despite his high status as the commander-in-chief of the Ch’i Kingdom’s army, where he helped achieve victory after victory and expand the kingdom’s borders, with successive victories, the king’s invasions increased. He became arrogant and no longer listened to others’ opinions and suggestions. Here, we see that Son Tzu left the king to live in a distant village in the woods, which indicates that he was not a sycophant or a pushover—traits of a true warrior.