Art of War 4.12
The Art of War (孫子兵法), Tactical Dispositions 形篇
故善戰者之勝也無智名無勇功
Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Lionel Giles's notes
Tu Mu explains this very well: “Inasmuch as his victories are gained over circumstances that have not come to light, the world at large knows nothing of them, and he wins no reputation for wisdom; inasmuch as the hostile state submits before there has been any bloodshed, he receives no credit for courage.”
Character glossary
- 故gùreason, cause; happening, instance
- 善shàngood, virtuous, charitable, kind
- 戰zhànwar, fighting, battle
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 勝shèngvictory; to excel, to truimph
- 也yěalso, too
- 無wúno, not; lacking, -less
- 智zhìwisdom, knowledge, intelligence
- 名míngname; position, rank, title
- 勇yǒngbrave, courageous, fierce
- 功gōngachievement, good work; merit; service
Passages with shared wording
- Analects 2.24
- Tao Te Ching Chapter 1
- Zhuangzi The Great Supreme
- Art of War 4.3
- Art of War 4.14
- Art of War 5.14
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.