The Art of War - How History’s Greatest Tactician Gives Life Lessons for A Modern Age
By Kevin Si
War
It seems to be a topic that I enjoy visiting every so often (see my first article). The philosophy and psychology behind some of history’s greatest minds (with a high percentage being leaders in wartime) never ceases to amaze. One of these great thinkers, Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War, is often portrayed as one of the best tacticians in mankind’s history. As a famed ancient Chinese military strategist and leader, Sun Tzu imparted vastly influential and successful tactics in his manuscript. Many great minds over the years have used his methods to achieve their own success, with Mao Zedong and General Douglas MacArthur as prominent examples.
But how is a two-thousand-year-old book about war useful to normal people like you and me? How can we apply Sun Tzu’s legendary mindset and tactics for defeating larger-than-life armies in our modern world?
The secret lies in the nature of the reader’s battles. The Art of War stands the test of time not only for its military prowess but its effective guidelines for winning battles on smaller scales. It is human nature to compete, and over time, this has transitioned away from direct conflicts and into other outlets, like business, sports, and social media. Even with a lack of external conflict, many often wage wars against themselves, competing to be the best that they can be. Ergo, the principles in The Art of War have great potential to aid in the pursuit of success in the modern world by assisting us in our own, everyday battles. From managing which activities or assessments to prioritize, to figuring out complex social relationships, many of Sun Tzu’s teachings can benefit our modern lives.
In the next few paragraphs, I’ll review two of the most impactful lessons that Sun Tzu imparts. Hopefully, they will have as large of an impact on you as they did on me.
“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”
In accordance with the previous rule, Sun Tzu urges conscious consideration of the importance and effect of an action or choice. Instead of acting impulsively, and making a fatal mistake, he highlights the importance of inaction (or retreat) as a vital consideration. Indeed, many times in warfare alone, leaders who fought with Sun Tzu’s methods left conflicts with their lives and wits about them. A notable example is Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia, wherein he suffered one of his greatest losses, miles from the Russian capital of Moscow. While a more reckless leader would have pushed on, Napoleon’s wisdom led him to retreat before resurging Russian forces and glacial Russian weather could have killed him entirely. Despite his major defeat, Napoleon’s wisdom prevented a much more catastrophic defeat and enabled his continued survival.
While I don’t think any of us will be invading Russia soon, nor fighting a war against the entirety of Europe, there are still a multitude of ways to benefit from Sun Tzu’s message. As my academic career advances, I’ve found it a much larger challenge to balance and maintain everything on my plate. Instead of recklessly shouldering every responsibility and burden, I’ve learned to add and cut responsibilities, placing mental health and happiness first. Sun Tzu’s wisdom has taught me that winning is just as important as knowing when it’s OK to lose.
“He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”
In accordance with the previous rule, Sun Tzu urges conscious consideration of the importance and effect of an action or choice. Instead of acting impulsively, and making a fatal mistake, he highlights the importance of inaction (or retreat) as a vital consideration. Indeed, many times in warfare alone, leaders who fought with Sun Tzu’s methods left conflicts with their lives and wits about them. A notable example is Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia, wherein he suffered one of his greatest losses, miles from the Russian capital of Moscow. While a more reckless leader would have pushed on, Napoleon’s wisdom led him to retreat before resurging Russian forces and glacial Russian weather could have killed him entirely. Despite his major defeat, Napoleon’s wisdom prevented a much more catastrophic defeat and enabled his continued survival.
While I don’t think any of us will be invading Russia soon, nor fighting a war against the entirety of Europe, there are still a multitude of ways to benefit from Sun Tzu’s message. As my academic career advances, I’ve found it a much larger challenge to balance and maintain everything on my plate. Instead of recklessly shouldering every responsibility and burden, I’ve learned to add and cut responsibilities, placing mental health and happiness first. Sun Tzu’s wisdom has taught me that winning is just as important as knowing when it’s OK to lose.
While these principles may not seem profound, consciously adhering and internalizing such wisdom is a great challenge with even greater benefits. Sun Tzu’s wisdom has been a timeless aid for many—in conflict and in peacetime—shedding light on fundamental truths within all human beings. While he may not have known the true influence of his simple manuscript for battle within in his lifetime, millions of people over millennia have benefited vastly from Sunt Tzu’s wisdom. Perhaps, then, it would have been more aptly called,