Sustainment is decisive: without baggage-train, provisions, and bases of supply, an army is lost.

By Sun Tzu, from L'Art de la guerre

Key Arguments

  • Logistics underpin maneuver; the absence of transport, food, and supply bases leads to defeat regardless of tactical intent.

Source Quotes

11. We may take it then that an army without its baggage-train is lost; without provisions it is lost; without bases of supply it is lost. 12.

Key Concepts

  • We may take it then that an army without its baggage-train is lost; without provisions it is lost; without bases of supply it is lost.

Context

vii. Maneuvering (lines 406–489) — logistical prerequisites for maneuver