Sun Tzu emphasizes pre-war deliberation in ancestral temples. Ample thorough plans secure victory, while inadequate ones lead to defeat. Without any planning at all, defeat is inevitable, so we can easily predict the final outcome.
This excerpt from The Art of War features Sun Tzu’s core viewpoint. He stresses war is crucial to a state, concerning people’s lives and national survival. Thus, leaders must deliberate thoroughly before waging any war.