Inspirational Quotes by Thomas Merton

“To triumph in battle and be universally acclaimed 'Expert' is not the acme of skill, for to lift an autumn down requires no great strength; to distinguish between the sun and moon is no test of vision; to hear the thunderclap is no indication of acute hearing.”

“- حين يكون العدو في متناول اليد ومع ذلك يبقى هادئا فهو يعد لك مكيدة.”

“The wise general in his deliberations must consider both favorable and unfavorable factors. He ponders the dangers inherent in the advantages, and the advantages inherent in the dangers. By taking into account the favorable factors, he makes his plan feasible; by taking into account the unfavorable, he may resolve the difficulties. Advantage and disadvantage are mutually reproductive. The enlightened deliberate.”

“- الحرب المثالية هي الحرب السريعة؛ فالحرب الطويلة استنزاف للمنتصر كما هي للخاسر.”

“A victorious army wins its victories before seeking battle; an army destined to defeat fights in the hope of winning.”

“- حين تواجه عدوا قويا لا تتحرك حتى تجد فرصة سانحة ولا تحارب حتى يخرج عن طوره ويهاجم!”

“فقال: "إذا كانت كلمات الأوامر غير واضحة ومميزة وغير مفهومة فيقع اللوم على القائد"، ثم أكمل فأعطى أوامره: "درن لليسار"، لكن النساء انفجرن بالضحك ولم ينفذن الأمر.”

“- كن مستعدا لتصيد أخطاء العدو؛ فقد لا يأتي النصر بدونها.”

“Plans and projects for harming the enemy are not confined to any one method. Sometimes entice his wise and virtuous men away so that he has no counsellors. Or send treacherous people to his country to wreck his administration. Sometimes use cunning deceptions to alienate his ministers from the sovereign. Or send skilled craftsmen to encourage his people to exhaust their wealth. Or present him with licentious musicians and dancers to change his customs. Or give him beautiful women to bewilder him. The wise general wearies his enemies by keeping them constantly occupied, and makes them rush about by offering them ostensible advantages.”

“- احتفظ بقواتك وقدراتك سرّاً.. فكلما كنت غامضا خافك العدو وضخّم قدراتك!”

“The art of using troops is this: When ten to the enemy's one, surround him; When five times his strength, attack him (if my force is five times that of the enemy I alarm him to the front, surprise him to the rear, create an uproar in the east and strike in the west); If double his strength, divide him (if a two-to-one superiority is insufficient to manipulate the situation, we use a distracting force to divide his army); If equally matched you may engage him (in these circumstances only the able general can win); If weaker numerically, be capable of withdrawing (if I am in good order and the enemy in disarray, if I am energetic and he careless, then, even if he be numerically stronger, I can give battle); And if in all respects unequal, be capable of eluding him, for a small force is but booty for one more powerful (the small certainly cannot equal the large, nor can the weak match the strong, nor the few the many).”

“- ستعرض نفسك لهزيمة محتملة إن لم تحدد (أنت) مكان ووقت المعركة.”

“The tao is the way of humanity and justice; 'laws' are regulations and institutions. Those who excel in war first cultivate their own humanity and justice and maintain their laws and institution. By these means they make their governments invincible.”

“- لا تحارب في الظروف الجوية المتطرفة التي يألفها العدو ولا تألفها قواتك!”

“- الأرض جزء من الجيش وهي التي ترفع أو تخفض من قوته!”

“L'excès de récompenses et de punitions montre que le commandement est au bout de ses ressources, et dans une grande détresse.”

“Todos los hombres pueden ver las tácticas, pero lo que nadie puede ver es la estrategia que hace que de estas observaciones evolucione la victoria.”

“En la guerra, el verdadero objetivo es alcanzar la victoria, y no realizar campañas largas.”

“- وحين لا تجد؛ ابحث عن الأرض المنبسطة واحمِ ظهرك بخنادق!”

“The nature of water is that it avoids heights and hastens to the lowlands. When a dam is broken, the water cascades with irresistible force. Now the shape of an army resembles water. Take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness; attack him when he does not expect it; avoid his strength and strike his emptiness, and like water, none can oppose you.”