军形第四

IV. Tactical Dispositions

孙子曰：昔之善战者，先为不可胜，以待敌之可胜。

Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.

不可胜在己，可胜在敌。

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

故善战者，能为不可胜，不能使敌之必可胜。

Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.

故曰：胜可知，而不可为。

Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.

不可胜者，守也；可胜者，攻也。

Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive.

守则不足，攻则有余。

Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.

善守者藏于九地之下，善攻者动于九天之上，故能自保而全胜也。

The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven. Thus on the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves; on the other, a victory that is complete.

见胜不过众人之所知，非善之善者也；

To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.

战胜而天下曰善，非善之善者也。

Neither is it the acme of excellence if you fight and conquer and the whole Empire says, "Well done!"

故举秋毫不为多力，见日月不为明目，闻雷霆不为聪耳。

To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength; to see the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight; to hear the noise of thunder is no sign of a quick ear.