Again, the natures of war are five:—
First, a righteous war; second, a war of might; third, a war of revenge; fourth, a war of tyranny; fifth, an unrighteous war.
The prevention of tyranny and the restoration of order is just; to strike in reliance on numbers is oppression; to raise the standard for reasons of anger is a war of revenge; to quit propriety, and seize advantage is tyranny; when the state is disordered and the people worn out, to harbour designs, and set a multitude in motion, is a war of unrighteousness.
There is a way of overcoming each of these five.
Righteousness is overcome by propriety; might by humanity; revenge by words; tyranny by deception; unrighteousness by strategy.
Lord Wen asked and said:—
“I would know the way to control an army, to measure men, and make the country strong.”
Wu answered and said:—
“The enlightened rulers of antiquity
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