Wuzi

吳子 (Master Wu)

attributed to Wu Qi (d. 381 BC); received text likely a later Warring States compilation · c. 400-300 BC (compilation; traditional attribution to Wu Qi, d. 381 BC, is contested) · Anyi, State of Wei (China) · other

An army wins through the moral unity of ruler, commander, and troops before it wins through tactics, so a general's first task is assessing whether his own state is fit to fight at all.