Rebecca and Sarah discuss Sun Tzu’s approach to warfare … or is it approach to ensure peace? Find out — come, listen and join the conversation!
“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination
they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of
them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.”
The Art of War
Listen on Anchor Podcast – The Book Dialogue
“No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his
own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.
If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay
where you are.
Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded
by content.
But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again
into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.”
The Art of War
The Book Dialogue 
One amazing aspect of reading sacred and proverbial writings from other traditions is their similarity, e.g., their prescription for deliberation and wisdom. Sometimes I forget Judeo-Christian writings are themselves Eastern in origin! The German philosopher Hegel recognized that the same Spirit or Mind or Idea, in its different phases of historical development, permeates all cultures at all times.
That bit about a walled city and its external aquifer will figure prominently in the novel I’m reading about King Hezekiah, as the Assyrians are about to attack Jerusalem. I love coincidences. I’m glad the two of you read and discussed a book which I’ll probably never read 🙂
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This is an excellent conversation. Yes indeed, the Judeo-Christian writing is Eastern thought. My father often spoke of Hegel so now I just went to Kindle (my favourite go-to place) and found an introduction by Peter Singer!. Will keep in touch on this. I am glad that we can discuss books that we will never read. So little time….and so many wonderful books. We will never run out of books!!! And that gives me great comfort.
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