The Unexpected Cannot Guarantee Success, But It

The Theory Of The Indirect Approach Operates On The Line Of Least Expectation.

[the] Aim Is Not So Much To Seek Battle As To Seek A Strategic Situation So Advantageous That If It Does Not Of Itself Produce The Decision, Its Continuation By A Battle Is Sure To Achieve This. In Other Words, Dislocation Is The Aim Of Strategy.

If You Find Your Opponent In A Strong Position Costly To Force, You Should Leave Him A Line Of Retreat As The Quickest Way Of Loosening His Resistance. It Should, Equally, Be A Principle Of Policy, Especially In War, To Provide Your Opponent With A Ladder By Which He Can Climb Down.

The Unexpected Cannot Guarantee Success, But It Guarantees The Best Chance Of Success.

A Commander Should Have A Profound Understanding Of Human Nature, The Knack Of Smoothing Out Troubles, The Power Of Winning Affection While Communicating Energy, And The Capacity For Ruthless Determination Where Require By Circumstances. He Needs To Generate An Electrifying Current, And To Keep A Cool Head In Applying It.