Firstly, Sun Tzu said that “if the enemy is secure at all points, one should be prepared for him. And if that enemy is in superior strength, one should evade the enemy.” Should I apply this to myself, it would mean not to be ashamed if I decide to surrender. If I can not do a certain thing very well anymore, it is just alright to give way sometimes. Accepting the fact that I can not be the best in everything I do is being brave. It would not make me less of a person.
“Though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.” From this line, I have learned that it is of great advantage if you make no delay but never be in haste. Having the right timing is essential in war and in life. And pondering very well on what to do and how to do it is important in order to live life with less regrets and misgivings.
The “Art of War” has provided us how to win victory. “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” I think we must know when we will go into a battle. Know when to let go and when to fight and be able to know what a useless battle is. For me, this can be applied when you deal with conflicts among your peer. One should not be tactless but maintain composure. This would require you to have long patience. There is time to stop and think and just get some rest and gather back my senses.
“He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.” If I would apply this principle to myself, it would mean learning to handle the strengths and weaknesses. I think it is imperative that one should acknowledge his strength and his limitation. This would make me think that I should develop more my potentialities and try to go beyond my limitation. For me, probably, I would venture into something that can be risky but at the same time I should ensure benefit from it or learn from it. It is good to give always a try. “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of 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.” These lines would be summed up that if you know both sides; you will win a hundred a hundred times in one hundred battles. We have to know ourselves before going into battle. It is also about knowing what the obstacles we may face and how to triumph over them.
“If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him.” Again, this means we should be able to know what course of fight we are going into. Probably, it is acknowledging our abilities and choosing the field in which we can do extremely well. It is important that we have this pleasure in our job and that can make you excellent in it.
“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.” In every way, we must be careful. Our actions should be very well-thought. Think carefully and methodically. It is about having a strategy or plan, a purposeful one. In life, there are a lot of circumstances in which it requires you to plan things very well in order to achieve your goals.
“Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy.” I think this means resisting temptation to stop pursuing one’s goal. With endeavor, we push our way until we reach success.
“Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.” I think when an enemy surrenders or returns to where he comes from, let him go. The war is over when the enemy is not anymore resisting or fighting against you. So, when a friend of yours admits his mistakes, never try to enrage his heart with your loathsome query about his sincerity. “In order to carry out an attack, we must have means available.The material for raising fire should always be kept in readiness.” Be always prepared. They say life is full of surprises. So it is always proper to be always expecting the unexpected. This can have another meaning for me. It would mean to save a penny for the rainy season. Personally, I am a bit of a spend-thrift.
“The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.” This is again about the importance of creating plans and making them good as well as executing them. Having plans also means having a direction in life. I think I should be diligent enough to pursue my goals especially that I am graduating. I will look for a good-paying job and toil with it.
“Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.” I think this line would tell me that it is always very favorable when you do things early or being punctual. It is as good as saying early bird catches early worm. This would also account to a popular nursery rhyme: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and wise.” I believe nowadays people sleep late. As a result, they, feeling very tired, wake up late. They would fail to see the beauty of the morning sunrise and miss to breathe the fresh ions in the morning air. With punctuality, I should do my work and make it best. With promptness, I should grab good opportunities and make most of it.It is also about learning how to manage time, that there is time for everything. There is time for toiling and for doing the responsibilities and duties.
“O divine art of subtlety and secrecy!Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy’s fate in our hands.” When we execute our plans, we should be subtle. In a competition, secrecy is important. As for me, this would tell me that I should not tell all. I should keep secrets to myself because in life there are actually secrets that can lead one to trouble. Things that are better left not said are better kept that way. Especially me, I have a lot of secrets that I think would be used against me. I am essentially a secretive person. Sometimes, I can be so detached from the people I deal with everyday. And by reading “Art of War,” it tells me that is indeed alright to be this way. This line would tell me that I should not let my enemies know my weaknesses or certain things which can be used against me. I think it is proper not to talk when one is not asked to I think it is very much appropriate to me. This tells me that I should try to conceal my fears. I should be tough even when I am shaking inside. I will not let them know I am afraid. And it also tells me that I should not reveal too much about myself. It is sometimes good not tell all the truth or all that you know of certain things. Sometimes, I should feign we are gentle but we are actually tough inside. Such things might be used against me one day.
“Art of War” tell me as well as there is always time for everything. There is time for joy and time for sadness. If it is time to go, then go. If it is not, stay where you are. Do not procrastinate. Get the job done before you can no longer do the job and all you do is submit yourself to compulsory. I think it also means not being lazy or striking while the iron hot.
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