| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Symposium by Plato: ever to become a master in the art of love, if you do not know this?' 'But
I have told you already, Diotima, that my ignorance is the reason why I
come to you; for I am conscious that I want a teacher; tell me then the
cause of this and of the other mysteries of love.' 'Marvel not,' she said,
'if you believe that love is of the immortal, as we have several times
acknowledged; for here again, and on the same principle too, the mortal
nature is seeking as far as is possible to be everlasting and immortal:
and this is only to be attained by generation, because generation always
leaves behind a new existence in the place of the old. Nay even in the
life of the same individual there is succession and not absolute unity: a
man is called the same, and yet in the short interval which elapses between
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Songs of Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson: XII. WE HAVE LOVED OF YORE - Berried brake and reedy island
XIII. MATTER TRIUMPHANS - Son of my woman's body, you go, to
the drum and fife
XIV. Bright is the ring of words
XV. In the highlands, in the country places
XVI. Home no more home to me, wither must I wander?
XVII. WINTER - In rigorous hours, when down the iron lane
XVIII. The stormy evening closes now in vain
XIX. TO DR. HAKE - In the beloved hour that ushers day
XX. TO - I knew thee strong and quiet like the hills
XXI. The morning drum-call on my eager ear
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Art of War by Sun Tzu: infirmity. This is surely some ruse on the part of the enemy,
and it would be unwise for us to attack." The Emperor, however,
disregarding this advice, fell into the trap and found himself
surrounded at Po-teng."]
19. Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the
move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the
enemy will act.
[Ts`ao Kung's note is "Make a display of weakness and want."
Tu Mu says: "If our force happens to be superior to the enemy's,
weakness may be simulated in order to lure him on; but if
inferior, he must be led to believe that we are strong, in order
The Art of War |
