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Samantha Among The Bretheren
Marietta Holley
Chapter 17
You see the way on't wuz: we had to do sumthin' to raise the minister's salary, which wuz most half a year behindhand, to say nothin' of the ensuin' year a-comin'. And as I have hinted at before but hain't gi'n petickulers, the men in the meetin' house had all gi'n out, and said they had gi'n every cent they could, and they couldn't and they wouldn't do any more, any way.
As I have said more formally, there wuz a hardness arozen amongst the male brethern.
Deacon Peedick thought he had gi'n more than his part in proportion, and come right out plain and said so.
And Deacon Bobbet said "he wuzn't the man to stand it to be told right to his face that he hadn't done his share," and he said "he wuzn't the man either, to be hinted at from the pulpit about things." I don't believe he wuz hinted at, and Sister Bobbet don't And she felt like death to have him so riz up in his mind, and act so. I know what the tex' wuz; it wuz these words:
"The Lord loveth a cheerful giver."
The minister didn't mean nothin' only pure gospel, when he preached about it. But it proved to be a tight-breasted, close-fittin' coat to several of the male brothers, and it fitted 'em so well it fairly pinched 'em.
But there it wuz, Deacon Bobbet wouldn't gi'n a cent towards raisin' the money. And there wuz them that said, and stuck to it, that he said "he wouldn't give a darn cent."
But I don't know as that is so. I wouldn't want to be the one that said that he had demeaned himself to that extent.
Wall, he wouldn't give a cent, and Peedick wouldn't give, and Deacon Henzy and Deacon Sypher wouldn't. They said that there wuz certain members of the meetin' house that had said to certain people suthin' slightin' about buzz saws.
I myself thought then, and think still, that the subject of buzz saws had a great deal to do in makin' 'em act so riz up and excited. I believe the subject rasped 'em, and made 'em nervous. But when these various hardnesses aroze amongst some of the brethern, the rest of the men kinder joined in with 'em, some on one side, and some on the other, and they all baulked right out of the harness. (Allegory.) And there the minister wuz, good old creeter, jest a-sufferin' for the necessities of life, and most half a year's salery due.
I tell you it looked dark. The men all said they couldn't see no way out of the trouble, and some of the wimmen felt about so. And old Miss Henn, one of our most able sisters, she had gi'n out, she wuz as mad as her own sirname about how her Metilda had been used.
The meetin' house had just hauled her up for levity. And I thought then, and think now, that the meetin' house wuz too hard on Metilda Henn.
She did titter right out in protracted meetin', Sister Henn don't deny it, and she felt dretful bad about it, and so did I. But Metilda said, and stuck to it, that she couldn't have helped laughin' if it had been to save her life. And though I realized the awfulness of it, still, when some of the brethern wuz goin' on dretful about it, I sez to 'em:
"The Bible sez there is a time to laugh, and I don't know when that is, unless it is when you can't help it."
What she wuz a-laughin' at wuz this:
There wuz a widder woman by the name of Nancy Lum that always come to evenin' meetin's.
She wuz very tall and humbly, and she had been on the look out (so it wuz s'pozed) for a 3d husband for some time.
She had always made a practice of saying one thing over and over to all the protracted and Conference meetin's, and she would always bust out a-cryin' before she got it all out.
She always said "she wanted to be found always at the foot of the Cross."
She would always begin this remark dretful kinder loud and hysterical, and then would dwindle down kinder low at the end on't, and bustin' out into tears somewhere through it from first to last.
But this evenin' suthin' had occurred to make her more hysterical and melted down than usial. Some say it wuz because Deacon Henshaw wuz present for the first time after his wive's death.
But any way, she riz up lookin' awful tall and humbly - she was most a head taller than any man there - and she sez out loud and strong:
"I want to be found - "
And then she busted right out a-cryin' hard. And she sobbed for some time. And then she begun agin,
"I want to be found - "
And then she busted out agin.
And so it went on for some time - she a-tellin' out ever and anon loud and firm, "that she wanted to be found - " and then bustin' into tears.
Till finally Deacon Henshaw (some mistrust that he is on the point of gettin' after her, and he always leads the singin' any way) he struck right out onto the him -
And Sister Lum sot down.
Wall, that wuz what made Metilda Henn titter. And that was what made me bring forward that verse of scripter. That the Bible said "'there wuz a time to laugh,' and I didn't know when it wuz unless it wuz when you couldn't help it - "
But I didn't say it to uphold Metilda - no, indeed. I only said it because they wuz so bitter on her, and laid the rules of the meetin' house down on her so heavy.
But Josiah said, "What would become of the meetin' house if it didn't punish its unruly members?"
And I sez to Josiah, "Do you remember the case of Deacon Widrig over in Loontown. He wuz rich and influential, and when he wuz complained of, and the meetin' house sot on him, they sot light, and you know it, Josiah Allen. And he was kep in the church, the meen old creeter. And Miss Henn is a widder and poor."
"Yes," sez Josiah, calmly, "she hain't been able to help the meetin' house much, and Brother Widrig contributes largely."
Sez I, in a fearful meanin' axent, "I hearn he did at the time he wuz up - I hearn he contributed lots to the male brethren who was a-judgin' him - but," sez I, "do you spoze, Josiah Allen, that if wimmen wuz allowed their way in the matter, that that man would be allowed to stay in the meetin' house, and keep on a-makin' and a-sellin' the poisen that is sendin' men to ruin all round him -
"Makin' his hard cider by the barell and hogset and fixin' it some way so it will make a far worse drunk than whiskey, and then supplyin' every low saloon fur and near with it, and peddlin' it out to every man and boy that wants it.
"And boys think they can drink cider without doin' any harm - so he jest entices 'em down into the road to ruin - doin' as much agin harm as a whiskey seller.
"And mothers have to set still and see it go on. It is men that are always appinted to deal with sinners, male or female. Men are judged by their peers, but wimmen never are.
"I wonder if that is just? I wonder how Deacon Widrig would have liked it to have had Miss Henn set on him? He wuz dretful excited, so I hearn, about Metilda's case - thought it wuz highly incumbient on the meetin' house to have her made a example of, so's to try to abolish such wicked doin's as snickerin' out in meetin'.
[Illustration: "SUPPLYIN' EVERY LOW SALOON FUR AND NEAR."]
"I wonder how he would have liked it to have had Charley Lanfear's mother set on him? She is a Sister in the meetin' house and Charley is a ruined boy - and Deacon Widrig is jest as much the cause of his ruin - jest as guilty of murderin' all that wuz sweet and lovely in him es if he had fed arsenic to him with a teaspoon."
Sez I, "In that very meetin' house to Loontown, there are mothers who have to set and take the bread and wine tokens of the blood and body of their crucified Redeemer from a man's hands that they know are red with the blood of their own sons. Fur redder than human blood and deeper-stained with the ruin of their immortal souls.
"What thoughts does these mothers keep on a-thinkin' as they set there and see a man guilty of worse than murder set up as a example to other young souls? What thoughts do they keep on a-thinkin' of the young hearts that wuz pure before this man laid holt of 'em. Young eyes that wuz true and tender till this man made 'em look on his accursed drink. Young lips that smiled on their mothers till he gin 'em that that changed the smiles to curses?
"Would a delegation of wimmen keep such a man in the meetin' house if he paved the hull floor with fine gold? No, you know they wouldn't. Let a jury of mothers set on such a man, and see if he could get up agin very easy.
"They are the ones who have suffered by him, who have agonized, who went down into deeper than the Valley of Death led by his hand. They went down into that depth where they lose their boy. Lose him eternally.
"Death, jest death, would give 'em a chance to meet their child again. But what hope does a mother have when down in the darkness that has no mornin', her boy tears his hand from her weak grasp and plunges downward?
"How does such a mother feel as she sets there in a still meetin' house, and the man who has done all this passes her the emblems of a deathless love, a divine purity?"
Josiah sat demute and, didn't say nuthin', and I went on, for I wuz very roze up in my mind, and by the side of myself with emotions.
And sez I, "Take the case of Simeon Lathers. Why wuz it that Sister Irene Filkins wuz turned out of the meetin' house and the man who wuz the first cause of her goin' astray kep in - the handsome, smooth-faced hypocrite? - it wuz because he wuz rich as a Jew, and jest plastered over the consciences of them that tried him with his fine speeches and his money."
[Illustration: "JOSIAH LOOKED UP AND SEZ, 'HOW A STEEPLE WOULD LOOK A-PINTIN' DOWN'"]
"Fixed over the meetin' house there in Zoar, built a new steeple, a towerin' one. If wimmen had had their way, that steeple would have pinted the other way."
Josiah looked up from Ayers' Almanac, which he wuz calmly perusin', and sez he,
"How a steeple would look a-pintin' down!"


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Kitchen roll holder for 3 rolls
Do you have a messy family? I tend to be a huge klutz, so I am always spilling something and can't find the dang paper towels. This keeps your paper towels (three rolls of them) handy! Great for the place with little counter space.

subset: commoncrawl


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RamJam Credit Recovery Program
June 16-27, 2008
RamJam Credit Recovery Program is a 10-day summer course designed to help students recover partial credit for English and Algebra. The program is a project-based learning exercise in which separate groups embark on adventures as diverse as building a butterfly garden, painting a mural on the baseball dugouts and documenting the entire experience on video and webpages. More Info >>
PreAP and AP Summer Reading Program
All students taking English and/or Social Studies PreAP and AP classes next year will participate in the Summer Reading Program. You will read a book for each PreAP / AP class and meet with your peers and Ms. Holbrook to discuss the book, create a project, and present the project to your parents in August.
More Info >>
Graduation Day
Delco Center, June 6
Johnston's Class of 2008 held their Graduation Ceremony on June 6th in front of a packed house. Friends, Family, Teachers, Administrators and other guests witnessed the Johnston High 2008 Graduation Ceremony, which now will be the very last one under the Albert Sydney Johnston name. See Highlights >>
Johnston Jumpstart Program
July 21- August 7
Have you ever dreamt of a class that allowed you to learn while blogging, building websites, creating a Japanese Meditation Garden, painting murals, and hanging out at local coffee shops?
Well Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!
Johnston High School has the summer program you've been dreaming about!
Explore English, reading, science, and math concepts as you earn a half credit (.5) in reading during this 12-day fun-packed summer program!
Where: Johnston High School
When: Monday-Thursday, July 21- August 7
Time: 9:00 AM-Noon
Cost: Free!!!
Sign Up Now! >>
National Honor Society recognizes outgoing and incoming members
LEADERSHIP, SCHOLARSHIP, CHARACTER AND SERVICE: Principals Celina Estrada-Thomas and Anabel Garza, along with librarian Patricia Ingram, Johnston faculty and members of the community, held their annual candle lighting ceremony to honor outgoing and incoming National Honor Society members at Johnston High.
See Highlights >>
Career & Technology Holds Lunchtime Fair
Teachers and Students from the Career and Technology Education Dept held a recruiting fair in the Johnston Cafeteria during a recent lunch period. All of the elective classes were represented including Digital Graphics, Culinary Arts, Auto Technology, Band, Health Sciences, Engineering, Video Technology, Webmastering, Theatre and much more. Students who are interested in choosing one of these electives next year were able to get a closeup view of what the classes are about and talk to current students and teachers about details of those classrooms. See Highlights >>
Johnston High Hosted District UIL Tournament
Johnston High School was proud to host the District 17-4A UIL Academic Tournament on March 22, 2008 at the Johnston Campus! Johnston competed with students from Crockett HS, Elgin HS, LBJ/LASA, Lanier HS, Manor HS, McCallum HS, Reagan HS, and Travis HS. JHS walked away with several medals including placements in Current Events & Issues and Calculator Applications. Several students went on to compete in the regionals at Huntsville April 12.
Get More UIL Info >>
Johnston High School is...
Albert Sydney Johnston High School is a learning institution designed to meet the needs of students and community. Our mission is to prepare students for their future by providing the highest quality of instruction, to instill basic values and responsibility, and to inspire them to perform at their maximum potential.
Johnston High School will be continuing its redesign effort next year. Please see the current relevant information below.
Johnston High School is currently one of the first high schools in the Austin Independent School District to be redesigned to fit the needs of the 21st Century student. As such, Johnston is in the process of developing two distinct academies, which will encompass the students' educational needs.
Academy of Arts and Humanities
The Academy of Arts and Humanities empowers students through high expectations in all activities, encouraging involvement and participation, and providing students opportunities with a focus on future success in post-secondary options. More
Academy of Scientic Inquiry and Design
The Academy of Scientific Inquiry and Design will provide every student with rigorous academic studies, hands-on inquiry emphasizing math, science and technology, and the tools and knowledge base required for a successful postsecondary education. More
General Information
Each academy houses about 375 students and 20 teachers. It is led by a director, assistant, instructional coach and counselor.
All students will take the core curriculum (ELA, Math, Science & Social Studies) within the academy.
Shared Programs Across Both Academies
Both academies offer courses at the Pre-AP level and share course offerings for AP level courses. For more information see links below:
Parent AP Letter
The following courses (programs) are open to all students on the Johnston campus: Band, Orchestra, Choir, Guitar, Art, Foreign Language, Theater, Journalism (Newspaper & Yearbook), Dance, UIL Athletics and UIL Academics.
From the Desk of Dr. Estrada
Please read this letter from Dr. Estrada about requirements for the district's teachers to be highly qualified.


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A member of Ken Henry's tax review has criticised the government for failing to consult on the recommendations it adopted from the report.
Greg Smith, a professor at the Australian Catholic University, called for an independent body to ensure the tax forum in October leads to changes to tax policy.
"It'll need a body of some kind – not just the government saying 'leave it to us, we'll sort this out with the Treasury and the Tax Office and Centrelink'," he said, speaking at the Tax Institute's "Great Tax Debate" yesterday.
The event was billed as a chance to canvass important issues in the lead-up to the forum.
Of the Henry review's 138 recommendations, the federal government has forged ahead with a dozen. They included the creation of a charities commission and the minerals resource rent tax. Most of the changes adopted are tweaked versions of the Henry originals.
Mr Smith, who has three decades of public policy experience including implementing the GST, said there were lessons to be learnt from the past.
In particular, he said extensive public campaigning was necessary.
"We used to have to convince everybody," he said. "This isn't being done now – we're just announcing and we're saying that's what leadership is, we announce and crash through.
"That's not the only model; it wasn't even the main model used for any of the tax reforms that I've been associated with, with either side of politics."
Australians would not buy an idea loaded with the fear of more tax, he said.
He called for a commitment to process, including a body to properly model and consider the options for tax reform and build on the "vision" of the Henry report.
He said tax cuts were needed, but Australia could not afford them for at least half a decade in the face of federal budget deficits.
Independent MP and broker of the tax forum Rob Oakeshott agreed with the need for a process and proper debate, and called for an open-slather forum to discuss tax policy.
"I am very much on the side of it's all in unless there's a compelling argument why it's out," he said.
This was in contrast to the "cherry picking" in play.
The government has ruled out of consideration at the forum, to much controversy, issues such as the mining and carbon taxes, as well as the GST.
In terms of changes sought, Mr Oakeshott said he was trying to remain "purposefully pure" and called on constituents to relay suggestions he could take to the forum.
"I am not going down the poker machine independent take-it-or-leave-it option," he said.
He said he supported getting rid of inefficient state taxes and helping small businesses, which make up a large part of his electorate.
Shadow assistant treasurer
"Australia does need a fair dinkum discussion on tax reform," he said, borrowing an oft-used phrase of Mr Oakeshott.
Senator Cormann said key to any change was the involvement of state governments, something the government failed to do on the mining tax.
Tax Institute senior tax counsel Robert Jeremenko backed Mr Smith's call for an independent body.
"We've started to do a lot of work around this as an institute – how we might engage the government and remain on the radar," he said.
"One way to do that might be to have some independent body established that would be solely tasked with examining implementation options for various options."
Whether the body was entirely new or an existing body – such as the Board of Taxation – it would have to be independent, he said, and would lay out a blueprint for future changes.
The two-day tax forum begins on October 4.
The Australian Financial Review


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Gach filed a $40 million lawsuit in Montgomery Wednesday alleging that from his prison cell on death row at Holman Prison in Atmore, convicted murderer Jack Trawick published on the Internet "graphic descriptions" of his crimes and given advice on ways to commit rape and murder. The Web site has offered for sale "souvenirs" including pictures of Trawick and copies of letters he has written, the lawsuit says. (Related story:Killer taunts victims family via Internet)
The lawsuit names as defendants Trawick, the Alabama Department of Corrections, prison commissioner Donal Campbell and New Jersey Web site designer Neil Arthur O'Connor.
Gach's attorney, George Jones III of Selma, said at a news conference outside the Montgomery County Courthouse that a Web site has been publishing letters and drawings from Trawick that give details about the 1992 murder in Birmingham of Gach's 21-year-old daughter, Stephanie.
Jones called the Web site "repugnant" and said it is not protected by the "freedom of speech" provision of the First Amendment to the Constitution.
"This teaches people how to commit murder," Jones said.
Standing beside Jones, Gach described her daughter as a young woman "with dreams and plans and hopes," who was just starting her adult life. After suffering through Trawick's trial and appeals, she said she never imagined Trawick would be able to haunt her from death row.
"There's got to be a line you can't cross, where you can't do these things," Gach said. 'Do you know how many people are finding these things and saying 'oh that's how you do it.'"
Stephanie Gach was abducted Oct. 9, 1992 from the parking lot of her apartment complex after being followed by Trawick from a shopping mall. Gach was strangled, stabbed through the heart and her body was thrown from an embankment.
Prison Commissioner Donal Campbell and public information officer Brian Corbett stood nearby during the news conference and were confronted briefly by Jones.
"What are you going to do to stop him from tormenting my client," Jones asked the commissioner.
Campbell later told Gach that Trawick's incoming and outgoing mail was being screened and his phone calls monitored.
"If I knew right now how that material is being sent out, it would not be sent out," Campbell said.
Corbett said prison officials believe material that has been published recently may be old material that may have been sent out some time ago.
O'Connor does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment. In e mail correspondence with the Associated Press last month, O'Connor said he was no longer corresponding with Trawick and didn't want anything to do with him.
Miriam Shehane, executive director of Montgomery-based Victims of Crime and Leniency, said she was "appalled" when she heard about the Web site.
"I've seen a little of the Web site and I couldn't handle it," Shehane said.


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Art of Warby Victoria Sun Tzu, Victoria Charles
Over the course of history, many wars have changed the political and cultural landscape of our world. While these events are defined by their upheaval and violence, they frequently contribute to the formation of the identity of entire generations or groups of people, and thus have significant cultural effects. Despite the physical and emotional destruction that
- Overview
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- Meet the author
Over the course of history, many wars have changed the political and cultural landscape of our world. While these events are defined by their upheaval and violence, they frequently contribute to the formation of the identity of entire generations or groups of people, and thus have significant cultural effects. Despite the physical and emotional destruction that occurs during these turbulent periods, they have inspired prolific artistic creation. In the wake of traumatic events over the centuries, a myriad of artists have produced works that immortalise the most dramatic moments of these wars in order to establish them in history forever.
This book presents beautiful images depicting famous battles and war scenes, accompanied by the iconic text of the legendary Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu, as well as texts documenting notable moments of different wars, each written by well-known writers. From Uccello's The Battle of San Romano to Picasso's Guernica, this work offers a captivating look at artworks inspired by war and what they reveal about humanity's history.
Editorial Reviews
Product Details
- 9781844848126
- Publisher:
- Parkstone Press USA, Limited
- Publication date:
- 05/28/2013
- Series:
- Temporis Series
- Pages:
- 256
- Product dimensions:
- 10.70(w) x 12.50(h) x 1.20(d)
Read an Excerpt
Sun Tzu said:
The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence under no circumstances can it be neglected.
The art of war is governed by five constant factors, all of which need to be taken into account. They are: the Moral Law; Heaven; Earth; the Commander; Method and discipline.
The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.
Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage, and strictness.
By Method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the gradations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.
These five factors should be familiar to every general. He who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.
Therefore, when seeking to determine your military conditions, make your decisions on the basis of a comparison in this wise:
Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral Law?
Which of the two generals has the most ability?
With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth?
On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?
Tu Mualludes to the remarkable story of Ts'ao Ts'ao (A.D. I55 - 220), who was such a strict disciplinarian that once, in accordance with his own severe regulations against injury to standing crops, he condemned himself to death for having allowed his horse to stray into a field of corn! However, in lieu of losing his head, he was persuaded to satisfy his sense of justice by cutting off his hair. "When you lay down a law, see that it is not disobeyed; if it is disobeyed, the offender must be put to death."
Which army is the stronger?
On which side are officers and men more highly trained?
In which army is there the most absolute certainty that merit will be properly rewarded and misdeeds summarily punished?
By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat. The general who hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it will conquerlet such a one be retained in command! The general who hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it will suffer defeatlet such a one be dismissed! But remember: While heeding the profit of my counsel, avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary rules and modify your plans accordingly.
All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat; how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.
In the operations of war, where there are in the field a thousand swift chariots, ten thousand heavy chariots, and a hundred thousand mail-clad soldiers, with provisions enough to carry them a thousand li*, the expenditure at home and at the front, including entertainment of guests, small items such as glue and paint, and sums spent on chariots and armor, will reach the total of a thousand ounces of silver per day. Such is the cost of raising an army of a hundred thousand men.
When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, the men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength, and if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the state will not be equal to the strain. Never forget: When your weapons are dulled, your ardor dampened, your strength exhausted, and your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue.
Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays. In all history, there is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. Only one who knows the disastrous effects of a long war can realize the supreme importance of rapidity in bringing it to a close. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war who can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.
The skillful general does not raise a second levy, neither are his supply wagons loaded more than twice. Once war is declared, he will not waste precious time in waiting for reinforcements, nor will he turn his army back for fresh supplies, but crosses the enemy's frontier without delay. The value of timethat is, being a little ahead of your opponenthas counted for more than either numerical superiority or the nicest calculations with regard to commissariat.
Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus the army will have food enough for its needs. Poverty of the state exchequer causes an army to be maintained by contributions from a distance. Contributing to maintain an army at a distance causes the people to be impoverished.
On the other hand, the proximity of an army causes prices to go up; and high prices cause people's substance to be drained away. When their substance is drained away, they will be afflicted by heavy exactions. With this loss of substance and exhaustion of strength, the homes of the people will be stripped bare, and their incomes dissipated; at the same time government expenses for broken chariots, worn-out horses, breastplates and helmets, bows and arrows, spears and shields, protective mantlets, draught oxen and heavy wagons, will amount to almost half its total revenue.
A wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy's provisions is equivalent to twenty of one's own, and likewise a single picul** of his provender is equivalent to twenty from one's own store.
Now, in order to kill the enemy, our men must be roused to anger. For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards. Thus, when you capture spoils from the enemy, they must be used as rewards, so that all your men may have a keen desire to fight, each on his own account.
Therefore in chariot fighting, when ten or more chariots have been taken, those should be rewarded who took the first. Our own flags should be substituted for those of the enemy, and the chariots mingled and used in conjunction with ours. The captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept. This is called using the conquered foe to augment one's own strength.
In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns. 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.
* 2.78 modern li make a mile. The length may have varied slightly since Sun Tzu's time.
** A Chinese unit of weight equal to 133.33 pounds.
To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to capture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment, or a company entire than to destroy them.
Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans; the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces; the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field; and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities, because the preparation of mantlets, movable shelters, and various implements of war will take up three whole months; and the piling up of mounds over against the walls will take three months more. The general, unable to control his irritation, will launch his men to the assault like swarming ants, with the result that one third of his men are slain, while the town still remains untaken. Such are the disastrous effects of a siege.
The skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field. With his forces intact he disputes the mastery of the empire, and thus, without losing a man, his triumph is complete.
This is the method of attacking by stratagem of using the sheathed sword.
It is the rule in war: If our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two, one to meet the enemy in front, and one to fall upon his rear; if he replies to the frontal attack, he may be crushed from behind; if to the rearward attack, he may be crushed in front.
If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him. Though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, in the end it must be captured by the larger force.
The general is the bulwark of the state: if the bulwark is strong at all points, the state will be strong; if the bulwark is defective, the state will be weak.
There are three ways in which a sovereign can bring misfortune upon his army:
By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army.
By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions that obtain in an army.
This causes restlessness in the soldiers' minds. Humanity and justice are the principles on which to govern a state, but not an army; opportunism and flexibility, on the other hand, are military rather than civic virtues.
By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.
Su-ma Ch'ien about 100 B.C. added to this section: If a general is ignorant of the principle of adaptability, he must not be entrusted with a position of authority. The skillful employer of men will employ the wise man, the brave man, the covetous man, and the stupid man. For the wise man delights in establishing his merit, the brave man likes to show his courage in action, the covetous man is quick at seizing advantages, and the stupid man has no fear of death.
When the army is restless and distrustful, trouble is sure to come from the other feudal princes. This is simply bringing anarchy into the army, and flinging victory away. Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory:
He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
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Meet the Author
Sun Tzu was a legendary Chinese thinker, producing several works on military strategy and the philosophy of war. Much of his biographical information remains a mystery, but it is believed that he was an accomplished general. His text has become an essential reference, both historical and philosophical.
Victoria Charles received her Ph.D. in art history. She has published extensively on art history and has contributed to Art Information, an international guide to contemporary art. She is a regular contributor to journals and magazines.
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This is not merely a military or tactical manual - this is a book of pure wisdom. Sun Tzu was way ahead of his time in creating such an extraordinary guide to strategy and leadership, both in and out of combat. Read this book once, then read it again the advice and aphorisms that flow from it are infinite each time.
This is a book full of wisdom and knowledge in the dealings of war. The concept of war can then be taken from the text and applied to all area of one's life. I have become a stronger individual after reading the book.
While originally thought to be a manual for making and winning wars and battles, astute readers and practioners will find Sun Tzu's writing to be a way of living life. The priciaples of war ae there for certain but think, dig deeper and improve your life.
on every bookshelf. Brilliant read.
This is an amazing book, but I don't want people to be deceived, it's dry. The driest martini in the world type of dry, the Sahara looks like a rain forest dry. It is meant to be educational and it is useful for creating your own philosophies and maybe a little bit useful in warfare (still great if you want to wage an ancient war). But not every reader that loves reading will understand why this is great. it is not an escape.
'Its not what you say but how you say it....' In The Art of War Sun Tzu explained how important dicipline must be heard.
This book is a good tool for anyone to use in order to get ahead in any career.
While the wisdom of Sun Tzu remains infallible throughout the ages, the commentary of Lionel Giles is asinine, unwanted, and unavoidable in this edition of Art of War. Mixed in with the translation of the original text, Giles' notations are unneeded at best, but are distracting and then irritating most of the time as they disrupt the flow of Sun Tzu's counsel.
My hockey team went on a retreat about 9 months ago. We were told that we would be uncofortable. Over the course of a few days, our coach opened up Sun Tzu's work to us. He focused on the Chinese word 'tao', which means 'the way'. Sun Tzu used it to refer to battle, we used it to refer to a battle on the ice rink. We made our own tao and used it throughout the season. This is just one small way the book can relate to other things than war.
Sun Tzu and his book of knowledge was and is one of the greatest pieces of knowledge man has ever created. From war to the job his strategies are very applicable.
I found myself reading into Military strategies and this book popped up. Well just to put it plain and simple this is a great book. I loved how it taught strategies not only for war but for leadership in any situation.
Amazing knowledge & wisdom on war tactics. Sun Tzu wrote & others observed these writing throughougt history. Sun Tzu wrote it's is better not to fight than to be involved in a conflict, but if you are going to have to fight, have your strategy and plan in place. I agree with this good summary of the lessons: "When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move." "In conflict, straightforward actions generally lead to engagement, surprising actions generally lead to victory." "Thus those skilled in war subdue the enemy's army without battle .... They conquer by strategy." "Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril." "In war, numbers alone confer no advantage." "To ... not prepare is the greatest of crimes; to be prepared beforehand for any contingency is the greatest of virtues." "What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed: One cannot afford to neglect opportunity."
Excellent. A classic read.
I thought that the book was very well written. I found that you have to attack from higher ground. Thats how it is in life and in war. I thought the book was very informational. It was written in a format that i could understand.
As a United States Marine who served in Iraq as a sniper, I strongly recommend this book. Even though this book was written a long time ago this general knew what he was talking about this book has many philosophies that I enjoyed very much and even though I have not finished reading the book I am looking forward to reading the rest of it. For all those who love reading like I do take a read at this awesome book. I leave you all with this quote from the book. "Indirect tactics, efficiently applied, are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew; like the four season, they pass away to return once more".
The Art of War has in recent decades been applied to such modern day problems as politics and business - really anything where conflict can surface. It was also suggested reading during my entire time in business school. So, I finally pulled the trigger and read the "original" (or at least the most well-regarded translation) The Art of War. The most impressive thing to me (which is explained in the introductory material) is how well the Chinese recorded their history. My only complaint about the introductory materials was that most great Chinese historical figures have multiple names - this makes it hard to track who is who in some of the commentaries. The actual strategies themselves are full of guidelines on determining your opponent's weaknesses, exploiting them and achieving victory. Not exactly full of moral or ethical advice, so I can't use much of it. I'm glad that I read it as it gave me a great look into Chinese history...but its practical use in my world is limited.
This book was cool. If you are creative enough you can apply this stuff to modern opposition in life. The only reason I didn't give it 5 is because some people might have trouble with the old references to war. Although it's still relative today, it might be a slow read in some spots. I just read an amazing book like this but for leadership and it has amazing references to life. Very similar. If you loved this book like I did then you will absolutely love the book "Don't Follow Me I'm The Leader". These style of books are so helpful... Good Luck & Happy Reading!
This is a great edition of "The Art of War" the editing is perfect and it really helps you understand what you're reading. I own 3 versions of the Art of War and this is by far the best version. Who would believe that a book on military strategy from the 6th century BC, would be this relevant to todays affairs, be it business or strategy.
Introduction Sun Tzu's strategy to war was more unique than any dynasty emperors. It consisted of spies, And even stealth attacks. Description and summary of main points The way sun Tzu's army was composed .It had very many consistent With nobody's army was. His army was very intelligent. Evaluation His army was very unique. with any he was a strategic genius. And is general was a master swordsman. Conclusion This book is very likeable if you can tolerate mythology And his commander Yao Shin was a smart man as well. Your final review This book was very good's liked a lot
There's no better book that this when it comes to military and warfare. Pity the book is NOT standard reading for OCS, West Point or The Citadel. Yet most of my officer buddies all have a copy. It helps clear matters up and gives a perspective and deeper understanding about warfare and even modern business practices. This book will certainly enlighten you in more ways that you can imagine,
She walked in and said "Hi"
I purchased as a thought provoker about warfare and it's cryptic almost oracle like pronouncements served the purpose admirably.