What can subdue the hostile neighboring rulers is to hit what hurts them most: what can keep them constantly occupied is to make trouble for them; and what can make them rush about is to offer them ostensible allurements.
It is a doctrine of war that we must not rely on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our own readiness to meet him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but on the fact that we have made our position invincible.*
Strengthening the Defense
Other translators comment on preparing a defense:
*Fundamentals in the use of forces are: do not rely on their not approaching, but rely on our readiness against them; do not rely on their not attacking, but rely on our readiness which cannot be attacked. J. H. Huang
*Do not depend on the enemy not coming; depend rather on being ready for him. Do not depend on the enemy not attacking; depend rather on having a position that cannot be attacked. Roger Ames
Strengthening the defense does not mean maintaining the status quo. After the machine gun had been in use for some time, the French Chief of Infantry said to Parliament, "Make no mistake, this weapon will change nothing." General John J. (Blackjack) Pershing noted that the arrival of the airplane provided an excellent and efficient means of getting oats to horses!!!
Too often what happens in the implementation of new military and business tools (i.e., quality management) is that the new is simply overlaid on old doctrine and structure. World competition is a powerful new force moving quickly to challenge keepers of the old paradigm. But human nature being what it is, there will always be a struggle to maintain the status quo.
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