Art of War 13.3
The Art of War (孫子兵法), The Use Of Spies 用間篇
非人之將也非主之佐也非勝之主也
One who acts thus is no leader of men, no present help to his sovereign,
no master of victory.
Lionel Giles's notes
An inferior reading for 主 is 仁, thus explained by Mei Yao-ch‘ên: 非以仁佐國者也.
This idea, that the true object of war is peace, has its root in the national temperament of the Chinese. Even so far back as 597 B.C., these memorable words were uttered by Prince 莊 Chuang of the Ch‘u State: 夫文止戈爲武...夫武禁暴戢兵保大定功安民和衆豐財者也 “The character for ‘prowess’ (武) is made up of 止 ‘to stay’ and 戈 ‘a spear’ (cessation of hostilities). Military prowess is seen in the repression of cruelty, the calling in of weapons, the preservation of the appointment of Heaven, the firm establishment of merit, the bestowal of happiness on the people, putting harmony between the princes, the diffusion of wealth.” [Tso Chuan, 宣公 XII. 3 ad fin.]
Character glossary
- 非fēinot, negative, non-; to oppose
- 人rénman, person; people
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 將jiāngthe future, what will be; ready, prepare
- 也yěalso, too
- 主zhǔto own; to host; master; host; lord
- 佐zuǒto assist, to aid; subordinate, second
- 勝shèngvictory; to excel, to truimph
Passages with shared wording
- Zhuangzi The Old Fisherman
- Zhuangzi The Great Supreme
- Art of War 2.20
- Zhuangzi Opening Trunks
- Zhuangzi The Empire
- Mencius 7B.24
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.