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Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
Cardinal999
09-03-02, 08:50 AM
I do wish CEOs of companies do see it that way. Instead, they go on their seperate way of helping themselves and their friends instead of the companies that they are entrusted with.
And that is how it should be.
It has been said that there is no more powerful man on all the planet, than a General on a battlefield.
A nation with weak Generals will not long remain a nation much longer.
Most men are NOT leaders. Of course they have the capability to become leaders, but a whole lot of things have to meet in a confluence of sorts for such a thing to occur.
Some may disagree, but the Peter Prescription stipulates that men rise to their level of incompetence. Thus, in the BIG Eight accounting firms, now the Big Four and shrinking, it used to be that if a person did not get promoted for three consecutive reviews, they had to leave the firm. The US military had the same policy for years. Up or out!!!
However, in the accounting profession, instead of keeping the personal performance bar set very high, the partners created more hierarchy. And ergo, the positions of Director, Associate Director, etc were born.
By contrast, generally speaking, the ranks of military officers remain unchanged. Sure, MOSes grew but the ranks did not. Once the senior commanders in the USA started reading Emile Durkheim's "Division of Labor" and some Max Weber, things really got into gear, so to speak.
A weak state in the modern international system is an invitation to be invaded. If not militarily, then by a cabal of white shirted neutron-lawyers who can wreak an equal amount of damage while still leaving the buildings intact.
Good, effective General's take the necessary steps to ensure the security of their nations.
That is their job.
This is the Way of the Generals.
-BingFa
markb287
09-21-02, 04:33 PM
"Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security."-Sun-tzu.
Basically this means what it says. The general who knows all this, can protect the people from any problems that may be caused if one didn't know all this. If the general does know this, then the people are secure and the battles are not severe, which is the main goal that the general must try to succeed in.
Mark287, good points.
I would only add that not only are the battles NOT severe, but there are NO battles.
The most awesome warriors fight the fewest battles.
-BingFa
An effective leader that knows what s/he is doing will be a beneficial thing to a nation.
Gonzo
MonteChristo
11-18-02, 04:56 AM
The people lives are the most valuable resource and will not be lost by wise general. Also the wise general will act in such a way resources are increased and can be used in defending the nation.
SunZulu
03-31-03, 05:41 AM
Sun Tzu said, "Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security."
A general needs to have wisdom!
A general that does not understand warfare is not a general and can not protect the nation's security, the rulers, the people, or their resources.
The Sage
04-15-03, 03:05 AM
wow this is very true and up until the idea of divine right which means that a ruler rules because god wants him to rule most leaders believed this way. of course once a man decided that god wanted him to rule he believed himself almost infallible. which cost many many ppl their lives to foolish wars and stupid mistakes that an intelligent rules wouldn't have made.
sorry went off on history. basically this is a strong statement warning anyone who reads this work that a leader is responsible for his ppl's lives and as such he must do his best to protect them because without them he wouldn't be there.
nightwolf
05-21-03, 04:10 AM
"Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's
security."
the ruler's job is decide if a war is necessary or not.
the general's job is to win the war and save his country
the soldier's job is to accomplish his mission.
A wise general wins the war and preserves his country and people....a difficult task destined only to those qualified and skilled in (Sunzi's) warfare.
HALBLEU
05-26-03, 10:08 AM
The Supreme Leader knows that his or her strategy ultimately determines the lives of those he or she defends and the lives of those he leads.
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
The general must remember that he works for the people not vice versa. His job is to protect the lives of people in his nation and those of his soldiers, and that he must not squander them unnecisarily and for his own purposes. He is to keep his country secure not to needlessly endanger his country with fallicious actions. He should know the Art of War so as to best do his job.
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
Sawyer’s Translation
“Therefore, a general who understands warfare is Master of Fate for the people, ruler of the state’s security or endangerment.”
The lives of the entire nation and the security of the nation itself will rest on the decisions made by the general. Make your plans thorough, make your estimate accurate, one missed calculation could not only cause you the loss of a battle but it could cost you the destruction of an entire nation.
I once worked with ayoung man who had a favorite saying..."take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves." I believe this applies to leadership as well..attention to detail even the smallest units of society leads ultimately to the safety and security of society in general.
pawn11
waterbearer
03-30-04, 04:20 PM
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
A wise general understands the political exgencies attending to post-war administration, of attending to a defeated enemy and rebuilding a defeated nation. Success in war does not demand utter annihilation, but military victory must be complete. There can be no uncertainty on the part of the adversary.
For the adversary, there must be honor in defeat (as with Japan at the end of and in the years subsequent to WWII).
Never forget the lesson of Versailles at the end of WWI and the ensuing rise of Nazi Germany.
Truthseeker
05-18-04, 12:52 PM
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
One who truly understands competition and knows how to gain victory also understands that he can only do so with competent subordinates. Thus it is to his benefit to act as guardian to those he employs. The more respect his subordiantes have for him and his strategy the quicker the victory.
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
One must learn from experience.
You cannot learn everything from a book.
A general that has seen it all is the best.
he knows the most of anyone in the field.
he is the most important chess piece in the game.
Sorry, i am running out of time.
Bushranger
07-31-04, 02:25 PM
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
No place like home ...
The General's position in the world, guardian of people and nation alike, is determined by his understanding of war. The general understands the costs of war, the purpose of battle, the leadership of men, and the interaction between the life of the nation and the existence of the army. Knowing all these things, knowing that war must be 'waged', he will not beggar the nation without sufficient cause or as an unforeseen consequence of foolish action. The General who plans and acts in accordance with his knowledge, of men and of war, fulfills his unique role in the true order of things.
Bushranger
08-01-04, 06:39 PM
The above reads a bit like a pronunciamento, by any number of military coup leaders from the last century. I should make clear that the general's role in the life of the nation is quite circumscribed in Art of War, and not guardian of the nation in the broadest sense.
The general's role in the hierarchy of government is not assumed to equate to supreme ruler. In a western style democracy, good government demands civil rulers. The wise general, understanding his place under the sovereignty of the rules of heaven and the people, will understand this and limit his actions accordingly.
Trinity
12-18-04, 09:55 AM
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
A generals task is to at least maintain the way of life for the citizens.
Too bad most leaders are more interested in self than service.
Kansuke
02-16-05, 01:08 AM
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
A true general attacks for the benefit, with low risks, does not impoverish the nation, does not carry on needlessly, nor draw engagements out. He is tactful, he is benevolent; he sees the common good, and that is why he uses his army.
Such a general is unbeatable.
FlamingCorndogs
04-17-05, 06:41 AM
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
Note "people's lives" as opposed to "soldiers' lives." The nation's security, not the nation's borders. A general who understands warfare is automatically a general who understands costs, including opportunity costs.
A general who follows the principles laid out in this chapter can't help but do what's best for the nation. While not realistically likely to be victorious all the time (humans make mistakes, after all), the general will be well prepared to conduct damage control, minimizing losses and maximizing gains. It's for this reason that the general will be guardian of the people's lives. By keeping the nation intact, the general does the same for the livelihoods of the people inhabiting that nation.
"Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security."
This is more about the Way I think... It is not about killing, it is about living.
The sage commander is mindful of the more global contexts that impart meaning to the military's function, both socio-economic at home and geopolitical abroad. While charged with defending the state's sovereignty and extending its reach, he/she takes care to manage in ways that do not bankrupt the state or pose undue hardships on the people. Instead, he/she seeks as quick and bloodless a victory as can be obtained against a given enemy, with an idea of "taking whole" through both armed and diplomatic means as appropriate.
bobby guerra
09-05-06, 01:07 PM
Originally posted by sonshi
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security. everyone wants to live and to prosper,unfortunatly many never learn that in order to do so one must know the art of war and one must learn that the true art of war is for the purpose of peace only the one who understands war and love can be the gaurdian of peoples lives and the ruler of security,in the end it seems we are at war with everything,or at least i am.
Realist
08-13-07, 08:37 AM
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
"Warfare is a great matter to a nation; it is the ground of death and of life; it is the way of survival and of destruction, and must be examined." A General who does not know warfare cannot protect the people. If anything, the General could put their people at peril. The General must know the art of warfare so that he might know what is best for his people. The wise general, the one who understands warfare, can save infinite lives - for the one that does not, the lives that could be lost is countless. In this way, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives. The ruler of men is abitrary, and who's rule is always fair. The general treats all of his subordinates as equals, and thus keeps order. In this way, the general that understands warfare is the ruler of the nation's security.
Vesting
08-24-07, 11:40 PM
Originally posted by sonshi
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
Waging a war requires great wisdom. It takes great responsibities, as the general is the defender of his nation's wealths and the lifes of his people.
Originally posted by sonshi
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
This is really where I have the most respect for the Art of War. Understanding that there is a soul to war in the respect that most people don't conduct it efficiently. Meaning reaching the quickest end result with the minimum damage to self and opponent. It is the underlying theme of the philosophy, yes, PHILOSOPHY of war.
Hephaestus
02-04-08, 10:27 AM
Originally posted by sonshi
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
And so it reminds us that the general is responsible for minimizing casualties, securing his nation's defense, and maintaining supplies with minimal expense.
Bubishi
02-18-08, 12:22 AM
Originally posted by sonshi
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
A succesfull general is a general who not only wins but protects the nation's resources and interests.
Kouga Gennosuke
05-07-08, 08:05 PM
Responsibility is heavy.
Originally posted by sonshi
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security. The strength of one's own nation and the safety of one's own people is primary. It comes before everything, including attacking an enemy. If y ou defeat an enemy but leave your own people and nation weak/vulnerable you would have been better not to conduct the campaign.
I saw a documentary on Sgt training for the British Airborne. There was an interesting clip where one candidate was directing fire from one building to another. The instructor scolded him something like, "You've go two injured men here and you've done nothing for them. You think anyone else is going to want to follow your orders if you leave these guys lying here?"
Therefore, a general who understands warfare is the guardian of people's lives, and the ruler of the nation's security.
if that is what the general wants..
The ruler would surely be jealous of the general's power and will look at him as a threat to the throne and assassinate him..
The general must be very good with his tongue if the ruler trusts him to have a knife at his throat..
Responsibility is heavy.
It's like having chains at your neck..
Think twice before committing :winking:
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