Summary
Sun Tzu opens by establishing that strategic competition is too important to approach casually. Success depends on understanding five constant factors: The Moral Law (unity and commitment), Heaven (timing and circumstances), Earth (terrain and environment), The Commander (leadership qualities), and Method and Discipline (organization and logistics). Before any engagement, a leader must compare these factors between themselves and their opponent through seven key questions. Whoever has the stronger position in these fundamentals will prevail. Sun Tzu introduces his foundational principle: 'All warfare is based on deception.' Appear weak when strong, far when near, and use bait to lure opponents. The chapter concludes with the crucial insight: victory can be calculated in advance through honest assessment. Those who do this planning well will win; those who don't will lose.
Coming Up in Chapter 2
Having established the fundamentals, Sun Tzu addresses the economics of competition and why prolonged campaigns are ruinous...
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(~213 words)
Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field. These are: The Moral Law; Heaven; Earth; The Commander; Method and discipline. Sun Tzu opens by establishing that strategic competition is too important to approach casually. Success depends on understanding five constant factors: The Moral Law (unity and commitment), Heaven (timing and circumstances), Earth (terrain and environment), The Commander (leadership qualities), and Method and Discipline (organization and logistics). Before any engagement, a leader must compare these factors between themselves and their opponent through seven key questions. Whoever has the stronger position in these fundamentals will prevail. Sun Tzu introduces his foundational principle: 'All warfare is based on deception.' Appear weak when strong, far when near, and use bait to lure opponents. The chapter concludes with the crucial insight: victory can be calculated in advance through honest assessment. Those who do this planning well will win; those who don't will lose.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Honest Assessment
Honestly evaluating your position, resources, and circumstances before committing to a course of action—resisting the urge to act before you understand the situation.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
The ability to evaluate your actual position—strengths, weaknesses, resources, circumstances—without wishful thinking distorting the picture. Most failures come from not knowing where you really stand.
Practice This Today
Before your next major decision, use Sun Tzu's five factors. Assess: alignment, timing, environment, leadership quality, and execution capability. Be brutally honest.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
The Moral Law
The alignment of the people's will with their ruler, creating unity of purpose
Modern Usage:
Company culture and employee buy-in; a team's shared commitment to a mission
Heaven and Earth
External conditions (timing, weather, circumstances) and physical environment (terrain, resources)
Modern Usage:
Market conditions, industry landscape, and your competitive positioning
All warfare is based on deception
Strategic misdirection is fundamental; never let opponents know your true position
Modern Usage:
Competitive intelligence—controlling what competitors believe about you
Characters in This Chapter
Sun Tzu
Military general and author
Speaks from direct experience commanding armies; every principle was tested in life-or-death situations
Modern Equivalent:
A successful CEO or founder who's been through multiple competitive battles
Key Quotes & Analysis
"The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death."
Context: Opening lines establishing the stakes of strategic competition
Sun Tzu demands we take competition seriously. Casual approaches to strategy lead to failure.
In Today's Words:
Competition is serious business—treat it that way or suffer the consequences
"All warfare is based on deception."
Context: Introducing the fundamental principle of strategic misdirection
Not immoral lying, but strategic control of information. Your opponent should never know your true position or intentions.
In Today's Words:
Don't show your hand. Keep competitors guessing about your real plans and capabilities.
"The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought."
Context: Emphasizing the importance of planning and assessment before action
Victory is determined by preparation. Those who calculate carefully beforehand have already won.
In Today's Words:
Do your homework before you commit. The work you do before launch determines success.
Thematic Threads
Strategy
In This Chapter
Victory is calculated in advance through systematic assessment
Development
This theme of calculation before action runs through the entire work
In Your Life:
Before your next major decision, do you honestly assess your position or rush in hoping for the best?
Deception
In This Chapter
All warfare is based on deception—controlling what opponents believe
Development
Sun Tzu will elaborate on specific tactics for misdirection
In Your Life:
In competitive situations, are you revealing too much about your plans and position?
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Sun Tzu say 'all warfare is based on deception'? Is this ethical?
analysis • deep - 2
Think of a competition or conflict you lost. Which of Sun Tzu's five factors did you misjudge?
reflection • medium - 3
How do you balance thorough assessment with the need to act quickly in fast-moving situations?
application • medium
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Five Factors Analysis
Apply Sun Tzu's five constant factors to a current competitive situation in your life—job search, business challenge, or personal goal.
Consider:
- •Moral Law: How aligned and committed are you/your team?
- •Heaven: Is the timing favorable? What external conditions affect you?
- •Earth: What's your terrain—resources, advantages, vulnerabilities?
- •Commander: What's the quality of leadership (including your own)?
- •Method: Can you actually execute, or are there capability gaps?
Journaling Prompt
Where are you weakest in the five factors? What would honest assessment require you to change?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 2: Waging War
The coming pages reveal prolonged campaigns are always ruinous—even for winners, and teach us the hidden costs of extended competition. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.