Victory and Defeat

The signs that an army will certainly win when it goes forth are these: truly talented and virtuous people occupy superior positions, while those without talent and virtue occupy inferior positions; the officers and soldiers of the whole army are high in spirit and harmonious in their relations; soldiers obey orders; what they discuss with one another is brave fighting; what they expect of one another is martial dignity; and what they encourage one another with is the law of punishments and rewards—these are the signs of certain victory. The signs that an army will certainly be defeated when it goes forth are these: soldiers are lazy and undisciplined; the three armies are repeatedly frightened; subordinates do not speak of propriety and trustworthiness; people do not fear the law; they frighten one another with the situation of the enemy; they converse with one another about profit; they entrust one another with predictions of good and ill fortune; and they confuse one another with monstrous and evil words—these are the signs of certain defeat. Modern......