善戰

善戰

1. to be skillful in battle

   • 孫子曰：昔之善戰者，先為不可勝，以待敵之可勝，不可勝在己，可勝在敵。故善戰者，能為不可勝，不能使敵必可勝。故曰：勝可知，而不可為。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
     孙子曰：昔之善战者，先为不可胜，以待敌之可胜，不可胜在己，可胜在敌。故善战者，能为不可胜，不能使敌必可胜。故曰：胜可知，而不可为。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

     From: The Art of War, circa 5^th century BCE, translated based on Lionel Giles's version

     Sūnzǐ yuē: xī zhī shànzhàn zhě, xiān wéi bùkěshèng, yǐ dài dí zhī kěshèng, bùkěshèng zài jǐ, kěshèng zài dí. Gù shànzhàn zhě, néng wéi bùkěshèng, bùnéng shǐ dí bì kěshèng. Gù yuē: shèng kězhī, ér bùkěwéi. [Pinyin]

     Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.