It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will

In the ancient art of warfare, where survival depended upon foresight, Sun Tzu, the great sage of strategy, proclaimed: “It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.” These words, drawn from his timeless treatise The Art of War, remind us that wisdom, not brute force, is the true foundation of victory. For though armies may clash with might and courage, it is intelligence — the unseen hand of knowledge — that guides the sword and determines the fate of nations.

The origin of this quote lies in the final chapter of The Art of War, titled The Use of Spies. Here, Sun Tzu unveils one of his deepest insights: that war is not won by strength alone, but by understanding the mind of the enemy, by seeing what cannot be seen. In his time, emperors and generals who sought conquest often relied on the movement of troops and the power of weapons. But Sun Tzu taught a subtler path — one of patience, observation, and intellect. He knew that the enlightened ruler, one who governs with wisdom and restraint, and the wise general, who seeks victory with minimal loss, both recognize the value of information as their most potent weapon. To them, spies are not traitors, but instruments of foresight — guardians of the nation’s destiny.

For Sun Tzu, the “highest intelligence” of an army was not in its soldiers’ valor, but in its leaders’ capacity to perceive what others could not. He understood that knowledge, once gained, can turn weakness into strength, and ignorance, once indulged, can destroy empires. Consider his words: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” This teaching rests upon the same foundation — that to see truly is to prevail. A ruler or general who neglects intelligence acts blindly, like one walking through darkness without a lamp. But the one who seeks and listens, who learns the movements of his foes, the temper of his people, and the terrain of the world — that one, Sun Tzu tells us, cannot be defeated.

History itself offers proof of this wisdom. Think of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who unified China not through overwhelming armies alone, but through networks of informants and advisors who whispered to him of plots, betrayals, and shifting loyalties. His spies uncovered conspiracies that might have shattered his reign before it began. Or recall the British codebreakers of the Second World War, who deciphered the messages of the Axis powers through intelligence alone. They did not wield swords or rifles, but their knowledge of the unseen saved countless lives and shortened the war. Thus, from ancient battlefields to modern command centers, the words of Sun Tzu remain as true as ever: intelligence is the silent force that turns the tide of history.

Yet Sun Tzu’s teaching extends beyond the realm of war. The “enlightened ruler” and the “wise general” exist in all walks of life — in leaders of nations, in captains of industry, in teachers, parents, and thinkers. To act with foresight, to seek truth before acting, to understand before judging — these are the marks of wisdom in every age. The “spying” of which he speaks is not mere espionage, but awareness, the courage to look deeper into reality rather than be deceived by appearances. The unwise rush forward in pride; the wise pause to perceive, and in doing so, move with purpose and clarity.

The deeper meaning of Sun Tzu’s quote is therefore not about deceit, but about perception and enlightenment. The true ruler is enlightened because he sees the interconnectedness of all things. The true general is wise because he understands both the strength and the frailty of human nature. Together, they embody the highest principle of leadership — that victory is born not from domination, but from understanding. The gathering of intelligence is not an act of manipulation; it is an act of respect for the complexity of the world. To know is to honor the truth of things; to act without knowing is to invite ruin.

And so, my children of the future, heed the words of Sun Tzu, spoken across the centuries. In your own battles — whether of politics, of business, or of the heart — seek to become both enlightened and wise. Gather knowledge not for vanity, but for harmony. Observe quietly, listen deeply, and let truth, not impulse, guide your hand. For the greatest victories in life are not won by force, but by insight. The sword may conquer for a day, but wisdom rules for an age.

Thus remember: “Those who want great results must use the highest intelligence.” Cultivate understanding, for knowledge is power — but wield it with compassion, for power without wisdom is destruction. Become the ruler of your own mind, the general of your own purpose. Then, like the sages of old, you will achieve not only victory, but harmony — and the world will know you not for what you conquered, but for what you understood.