Vital importance to the State

Sun Tzu said:

1. The art of war is of vital importance to the State.
2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin.  Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.
4. These are:
1. The Moral Law;
2. Heaven;
3. Earth;
4. The Commander;
5. Method and discipline.

[Insight:  To study war, the strategy of it and its effects are of most important to a country, it's people and it's government.  There are morals to consider along with the morale of the soldiers.  The souls involved in the battle and guidance "from above."  The earth and how it will be affected.  The wisdom and sincerity of the commanders.  And the training, the confidence, the adequate supplies and the cooperation of the soldiers.]