Art of War 2.20
The Art of War (孫子兵法), Waging War 作戰篇
故知兵之將民之司命國家安危之主也
Thus it may be known that the leader of armies is the arbiter of the people’s fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Lionel Giles's notes
In the original text, there is a 生 before the 民.
Character glossary
- 故gùreason, cause; happening, instance
- 知zhīto know, to perceive, to comprehend
- 兵bīngsoldier; troops, an army; warlike
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 將jiāngthe future, what will be; ready, prepare
- 民míncitizens, subjects; a nation's people
- 司sīto take charge of, to control, to manage
- 命mìnglife; destiny, fate, luck; an order, ins
- 國guócountry, nation, state; national
- 家jiāhouse, home, residence; family
- 安ānpeaceful, tranquil, quiet
- 危wēidangerous, precarious; high
- 主zhǔto own; to host; master; host; lord
- 也yěalso, too
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
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