Wisdom

[Bill of Rights]

Please indulge me while I quote a text I was just reading, as I think you may find it relevant to our shared interest and viewpoint.

Military weapons are the means used by the Sage to
punish violence and cruelty, to give peace to troublous
times, to remove difficulties and dangers, and to succor
those who are in peril. Every animal with blood in its veins
and horns on its head will fight when it is attacked. How
much more so will man, who carries in his breast the
faculties of love and hatred, joy and anger! When he is
pleased, a feeling of affection springs up within him; when
angry, his poisoned sting is brought into play. That is the
natural law which governs his being.... What then shall be
said of those scholars of our time, blind to all great
issues, and without any appreciation of relative values, who
can only bark out their stale formulas about "virtue" and
"civilization," condemning the use of military weapons? They
will surely bring our country to impotence and dishonor and
the loss of her rightful heritage; or, at the very least,
they will bring about invasion and rebellion, sacrifice of
territory and general enfeeblement. Yet they obstinately
refuse to modify the position they have taken up. The truth
is that, just as in the family the teacher must not spare the
rod, and punishments cannot be dispensed with in the State,
so military chastisement can never be allowed to fall into
abeyance in the Empire. All one can say is that this power
will be exercised wisely by some, foolishly by others, and
that among those who bear arms some will be loyal and others
rebellious.

(emphasis mine)

My friends, some of you may recognize the quote, though I doubt many will.

The author was the Grand Historian of China, Ssu-ma Ch`ien (circa 145-circa 90 BC), as quoted in the introduction to the oldest military treatise known to mankind, "The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, published in English in 1910.)

The more things change, the more they stay the same, I think.

Blessings,
Bill

 

[youngda9]

Excellent post. I bought that book a while back and haven't got around to reading yet...It just moved up in my queue thanks to you.

 

[jeremy]

I first read that book 25 years ago...
I am on my 3rd copy of it too.

 

[E5RANGER375]

every soldier should own that book.

 

[shibumiseeker]

I have been meaning to reread TAoW. What I was struck at the time I first read it was how much in it still applied to day. Some of the specifics had changed but the underlying wisdom has stood the test of time.