Art of War 9.36
The Art of War (孫子兵法), The Army On The March 行軍篇
屢賞者窘也數罰者困也
Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his resources;
too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress.
Lionel Giles (1910), Sun Tzŭ on the Art of War (1910), with Giles' notes — public domain.
Lionel Giles's notes
Because, when an army is hard pressed, as Tu Mu says, there is always a fear of mutiny, and lavish rewards are given to keep the men in good temper.
Because in such case discipline becomes relaxed, and unwonted severity is necessary to keep the men to their duty.
Character glossary
- 屢lǚfrequently, often, again and again
- 賞shǎngreward; to appreciate; to bestow, to gra
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 窘jiǒngdistressed; embarrassed; hard-pressed
- 也yěalso, too
- 數shùcount, number, several
- 罰fápenalty, fine; to punish, to penalize
- 困kùnto surround; to besiege; surrounded, in
Passages with shared wording
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.