 Daoist rhetoric is a component incorporated in the Art of War . According to Steven C. Combs in " Sun @-@ zi and the Art of War : The Rhetoric of <unk> , " warfare is " used as a metaphor for rhetoric , and that both are philosophically based arts . " Combs writes “ Warfare is analogous to persuasion , as a battle for hearts and minds . " The application of The Art of War strategies throughout history is attributed to its philosophical rhetoric . Daoism is the central principle in the Art of War . Combs compares ancient Daoist Chinese to traditional Aristotelian rhetoric , notably for the differences in persuasion . Daoist rhetoric in the art of war warfare strategies is described as " peaceful and passive , favoring silence over speech . " This form of communication is parsimonious . <unk> behavior , which is highly emphasized in The Art of War as avoiding confrontation and being spiritual in nature , shapes basic principles in Daoism . 
