Art of War 1.18
The Art of War (孫子兵法), Laying Plans 計篇
兵者詭道也
All warfare is based on deception.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Lionel Giles's notes
The truth of this pithy and profound saying will be admitted by every soldier. Col. Henderson tells us that Wellington, great in so many military qualities, was especially distinguished by “the extraordinary skill with which he concealed his movements and deceived both friend and foe.”
Character glossary
- 兵bīngsoldier; troops, an army; warlike
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 詭guǐto cheat, to defraud; sly, treacherous
- 道dàomethod, way; path, road
- 也yěalso, too
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.