Art of War 1.11
The Art of War (孫子兵法), Laying Plans 計篇
凡此五者將莫不聞知之者勝不知者不勝
These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Character glossary
- 凡fánany, every, all; common, ordinary
- 此cǐthis, these; in this case, then
- 五wǔfive; surname
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 將jiāngthe future, what will be; ready, prepare
- 莫mòcannot; do not; is not; negative
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 聞wénnews; to hear, to smell; to make known
- 知zhīto know, to perceive, to comprehend
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 勝shèngvictory; to excel, to truimph
Passages with shared wording
- Art of War 8.13
- Zhuangzi Robber Chê
- Zhuangzi The Universe
- Art of War 3.17
- Zhuangzi The Great Supreme
- Art of War 9.33
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.