Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you

“Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.” Thus spoke Sun Tzu, the ancient master of strategy, whose timeless wisdom flows from the pages of The Art of War like a river that nourishes the ages. In this teaching lies not merely a lesson in warfare, but a revelation about leadership, loyalty, and the power of compassion. For Sun Tzu, victory was not achieved through fear or cruelty, but through the bond between leader and follower — a bond forged in love, trust, and respect.

When Sun Tzu wrote these words, China was a land of constant conflict — a mosaic of warring states locked in endless struggle. Generals commanded vast armies, yet few understood that the heart of battle was not steel, but spirit. Sun Tzu saw that soldiers were not tools of conquest, but men of flesh and feeling, whose courage burned brightest when they fought for one they loved and trusted. To regard one’s soldiers as children was to recognize their humanity — to protect them, nurture them, and inspire them to greatness. Such a leader does not drive his men with fear; he leads them with devotion, and in return, they would follow him into the fire itself.

The wisdom of this teaching has echoed through every age. Consider Alexander the Great, who, though a conqueror of nations, never ceased to eat and march beside his soldiers. He shared their hardships, slept beneath the same stars, and called them his brothers. When his army grew weary in the deserts of Asia, Alexander refused to drink from the last flask of water offered to him, saying, “If my men thirst, so shall I.” In that single act of empathy, he won their undying loyalty. Like the general Sun Tzu described, he looked upon his men as sons, and they stood by him through every peril, their hearts bound to his as to their own father’s.

This philosophy is not confined to the battlefield. It lives in every realm where leadership calls upon the hearts of others. The wise teacher who loves his students more than he loves authority; the leader who protects his people more than his position; the parent who guides through kindness rather than control — all walk the path Sun Tzu describes. For true command is not domination, but service, and true loyalty is not demanded, but earned through selflessness. Fear may drive obedience, but love inspires sacrifice. The soldier who fears his commander will fight only for survival; the one who loves him will fight for his honor.

Sun Tzu’s words also warn of a deeper truth: that authority without compassion is hollow. The ruler who values his soldiers only for their use will one day find himself alone, abandoned by those he treated as tools. But the leader who regards his followers as his own flesh and blood will find strength beyond measure. For when people feel seen, protected, and valued, they rise to greatness. The bond between leader and led becomes a living force, stronger than any weapon. Thus, Sun Tzu teaches that mastery in war — and in life — is not found in cunning alone, but in the understanding of the human heart.

History again affirms this truth in the example of General Võ Nguyên Giáp of Vietnam, who led his soldiers against far stronger armies. He once said, “The people are the water, and the army is the fish.” His soldiers fought not because they were ordered to, but because they believed in him — because he shared their hunger, their suffering, and their dream of freedom. Like the general in Sun Tzu’s vision, Giáp’s power lay in his empathy. He had turned an army of farmers and laborers into warriors of unbreakable resolve, bound together by the love between leader and people.

Thus, my child, take this wisdom into your own heart. Whether you lead an army, a household, a company, or even your own small circle of friends — lead with compassion. Do not command from a throne, but walk among those you guide. Listen to their fears, share their burdens, and show them that you see them not as means to an end, but as souls with purpose. When people know they are loved, they will walk with you through every storm, and stand beside you even when all hope seems lost.

For this is the eternal truth of Sun Tzu’s words: loyalty is born from love, and greatness from empathy. To regard others as your own — as your children, your brothers, your beloved companions — is to awaken in them the strength to follow you into the deepest valleys, and perhaps even beyond death itself. Lead, then, not with the iron of command, but with the gold of compassion, and you shall find that the hearts of others will become your most unshakable fortress.