Military / Strategy / Classical Texts
Military / Strategy / Classical TextsAttack by Stratagem
The highest level of strategy wins by breaking plans, alliances, and confidence before brute force is needed.
別名
Attack by Stratagem / 謀攻 / Art of War Chapter 3
領域
Strategy, leadership, planning, deception, competition
Chapter Focus
- The highest level of strategy wins by breaking plans, alliances, and confidence before brute force is needed.
- Alternate chapter title: Attack by Stratagem
- Chinese chapter title: 謀攻
- This chapter page groups three practical quote cards from the same chapter.
Selected Rules
- Rule 3.1: The best win is the one that costs the least.
- Rule 3.2: Go after the system behind the problem, not only the visible surface.
- Rule 3.3: Good strategy includes refusal.
Rule 3.1
- Chinese original:
不戰而屈人之兵，善之善者也。 - Working English: The highest form of skill is to make the other side yield without fighting.
- Simple definition: The best win is the one that costs the least.
- Simple explanation: If you can make resistance look pointless, you save time, money, and energy.
- Simple usage: Frame a proposal so clearly around the other side's incentives that they choose your direction themselves.
Rule 3.2
- Chinese original:
上兵伐謀，其次伐交，其次伐兵，其下攻城。 - Working English: First attack plans, then alliances, then armies; siege is the worst option.
- Simple definition: Go after the system behind the problem, not only the visible surface.
- Simple explanation: The later you act, the more expensive the solution becomes.
- Simple usage: Break a competitor's supply partnership or narrative advantage before trying to outspend them directly.
Rule 3.3
- Chinese original:
知可以戰與不可以戰者勝。 - Working English: The one who knows when to fight and when not to fight will win.
- Simple definition: Good strategy includes refusal.
- Simple explanation: Not every opportunity deserves engagement.
- Simple usage: Decline a feature race that drains the team and does not strengthen the product's real position.