(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . How Do We Defeat Fascism and the Magaverse? Sun Tzu's "Art of War“ Will Give Us Some Good Ideas! [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-26 Many millions of Americans support the end of Democracy and the neutering the U. S. Constitution. Millions of other Americans are too lazy to even vote. By not being involved in any way they are essentially collaborators. Those of us who support Democracy and the U. S. Constitution are under attack. We are now at war with the Magaverse and their fascist allies around the world. I fear our Magaverse enemies are going to out maneuver us. We need help and advice. I can’t think of a better person to turn to than Sun Tzu and his "Art of War. “ Parade magazine was gracious enough to list their favorite quotes from the "Art of War." A book written almost 2500 years ago. I have wittled down their list even further to what I believe are Sun Tzu’s most profound insights. We can all learn a great deal from one of the greatest tacticians of all time! Sun Tzu gives us a lot to think about! I guarantee you our political enemies are familiar with his ideas. It’s about time we are also well versed, too! 2. "In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” 3. "Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” 4. “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” 5. "The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” 7. "Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.” 10. “There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen. There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.” 12. "You have to believe in yourself.” 13. "Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.” 16. "The wise warrior avoids the battle.” 17. "The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.” 18. “One mark of a great soldier is that he fights on his own terms or fights not at all.” 20. "He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.” 22. "There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.” 23. “Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack.” 24. "Great results can be achieved with small forces.” 25. “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” 27. "To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.” 30. "Never venture, never win!” 31. "The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch'ang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.” 32. "It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy.” 33. "Be where your enemy is not.” 35. "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.” 36. "Plan for what it is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.” 37. "The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.” 38. "Foreknowledge cannot be gotten from ghosts and spirits, cannot be had by analogy, cannot be found out by calculation. It must be obtained from people, people who know the conditions of the enemy.” 40. “Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.” 43. “The worst calamities that befall an army arise from hesitation.” 45. "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.” 52. "Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.” 54. “If his forces are united, separate them.” 55. “Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.” 59. "Convince your enemy that he will gain very little by attacking you; this will diminish his enthusiasm.” 60. "To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." 61. "Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” 62. "All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear 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.” 63. "If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected." 64. "To know your enemy, you must become your enemy.” 65. "Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: (1) He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight; (2) he will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces; (3) he will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks; (4) he will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared; (5) he will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.” 67. “When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.” 68. “So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.” 69. "To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.” 71. “Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.” 72. "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.” 73. “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/26/2248897/-How-Do-We-Defeat-Fascism-and-the-Magaverse-Sun-Tzu-s-Art-of-War-Will-Give-Us-Some-Good-Ideas?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/