Original Text(~173 words)
Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign, collects his army and concentrates his forces. When in difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high roads intersect, join hands with your allies. Do not linger in dangerously isolated positions. In hemmed-in situations, you must resort to stratagem. In desperate position, you must fight. This short chapter addresses tactical flexibility. Sun Tzu lists situations requiring different responses—when to encamp, when to ally, when to fight. The message: there are no universal tactics. Everything depends on circumstances. The chapter contains a crucial warning about commands: 'There are commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.' The general on the ground has information the sovereign lacks. Blind obedience to distant authority destroys armies. Most importantly, Sun Tzu identifies five dangerous character faults that destroy generals: recklessness (leads to destruction), cowardice (leads to capture), quick temper (responds to insults), honor-obsession (sensitive to shame), and over-solicitude for troops (leads to worry and trouble). These character flaws make leaders predictable and manipulable.
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Summary
This short chapter addresses tactical flexibility. Sun Tzu lists situations requiring different responses—when to encamp, when to ally, when to fight. The message: there are no universal tactics. Everything depends on circumstances. The chapter contains a crucial warning about commands: 'There are commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.' The general on the ground has information the sovereign lacks. Blind obedience to distant authority destroys armies. Most importantly, Sun Tzu identifies five dangerous character faults that destroy generals: recklessness (leads to destruction), cowardice (leads to capture), quick temper (responds to insults), honor-obsession (sensitive to shame), and over-solicitude for troops (leads to worry and trouble). These character flaws make leaders predictable and manipulable.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Sovereign commands not obeyed
The principle that ground-level judgment must sometimes override distant authority
Modern Usage:
Knowing when to push back on directives that don't fit reality
Five dangerous faults
Character weaknesses that make leaders predictable: recklessness, cowardice, temper, honor-obsession, over-solicitude
Modern Usage:
Blind spots and emotional triggers that opponents can exploit
Characters in This Chapter
Sun Tzu
Strategist warning against rigidity
Shows that character flaws are more dangerous than tactical errors
Modern Equivalent:
The executive coach who identifies leaders' blind spots
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
Identifying your own character flaws before opponents can—and recognizing that these weaknesses are predictable patterns that can be exploited.
Practice This Today
Honestly assess which of Sun Tzu's five faults you're most susceptible to. How might an opponent use it against you?
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"There are commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed."
Context: Establishing the general's independent judgment
Distant authority lacks ground truth. The person on scene must sometimes override orders.
In Today's Words:
Sometimes you have to push back on instructions from above because you know something they don't.
"There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general."
Context: Introducing the character flaws that destroy leaders
Tactical skill means nothing if character makes you predictable or manipulable.
In Today's Words:
Your biggest weaknesses aren't skill gaps—they're character flaws that opponents can exploit.
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Contextual Judgment
Recognizing that character flaws aren't just personal weaknesses—they're predictable patterns that sophisticated opponents can exploit.
Thematic Threads
Adaptability
In This Chapter
No universal tactics—everything depends on context
Development
This flexibility theme continues throughout
In Your Life:
Are you applying 'best practices' blindly, or adapting to your actual context?
Leadership
In This Chapter
Character flaws destroy leaders more than tactical errors
Development
Self-knowledge becomes strategic necessity
In Your Life:
Which of the five faults are you most susceptible to?
Modern Adaptation
The Executive Trigger
Following Maya's story...
Maya's competitor CEO is notoriously hot-tempered. He responds to any public criticism with aggressive moves—launching features, cutting prices, making acquisitions. Maya sees an opportunity. She doesn't attack him directly—she baits him. She makes comments in industry publications that question his technical decisions. Not lies—just pointed questions that she knows will enrage him. He responds exactly as predicted: rushed product launches, hasty decisions, resources diverted to counter her perceived threats. Meanwhile, Maya quietly executes her actual strategy while he's distracted by fights she's provoking. She's using his character fault against him. His quick temper makes him predictable and manipulable. Maya also examines herself. What are her faults? She tends toward over-solicitude—too worried about team burnout, sometimes sacrificing aggressive execution for employee comfort. Knowing this, she guards against it.
The Road
Maya identifies and exploits competitor character faults while guarding her own
The Map
Sun Tzu's five dangerous faults: recklessness, cowardice, temper, honor-obsession, over-solicitude
Amplification
Your character flaws are attack surfaces. Know your own and protect them; identify opponents' and exploit them.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
When is it appropriate to disobey instructions from authority? How do you know?
analysis • deep - 2
Which of the five dangerous faults are you most susceptible to?
reflection • deep - 3
Have you ever seen someone's character fault exploited against them? What happened?
application • medium
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Fault Inventory
Honestly assess your vulnerability to Sun Tzu's five dangerous faults.
Consider:
- •Recklessness: Do you act before thinking? Chase excitement?
- •Cowardice: Do you avoid risk excessively? Freeze when boldness is needed?
- •Quick temper: Can you be provoked? Do you respond to insults?
- •Honor-obsession: Are you too sensitive to criticism? Can you be shamed into action?
- •Over-solicitude: Do you sacrifice results for comfort? Worry too much?
Journaling Prompt
Describe your primary character fault and how an opponent might use it against you. What would they do?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 9: The Army on the March
Moving forward, we'll examine to read environmental and behavioral signals, and understand enemy behavior reveals about their intentions. These insights bridge the gap between classic literature and modern experience.