5.19

Chapter: Energy

5.19

Translation:

Thus one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He sacrifices something, that the enemy may snatch at it.

Commentary

Deceit is natural and we have been called the mendacious ape for our tendency towards trickery. It is a skill that, when highly developed, can win wars with little fighting.

It can even be said that all war is deceit.

There is a lot of deceit in business too, from exaggerated advertising to competitive strategy.