Sun Tzu on Tactical Dispositions: "The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for the opportunity of defeating the enemy." (1)
Seldom are men today raised in an ambience of heroic discipline, rather we are cast in the mold of plastic, and like this material, we are mostly appearance and weakness. For most men, the recasting they desperately need happens later in life. Few, however, are willing to be recast, even if Divine Blacksmith will vouchsafe their transformation.
Nevertheless, for the willing here is the crucible— the military method. Enter and place yourself beyond the possibility of defeat in the sector God has willed for you to advance the Grand Spiritual Enterprise, whether in the sphere of the arts, administration, education, et cetera.
"In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory." (2)
Measurement. He must measure the enemy correctly. He must take pains not to isolate aspects of the enemy, considering them to be the enemy himself. If he does, he is destined for defeat. He must take care not to conclude, 'Ah ha, the enemy is the Freemasonry!' Or 'the enemy is the Jews!,' or any other agency. Neither must he do the same for any other element; an ideology, a person, an art movement, and so on. Let him climb rather the fortress tower of wisdom and see that these are only aspects of one enemy.
Estimation of quantity. Taking on the vantage point of wisdom he will now see the whole, an anti-mystical organism composed of ideas, institutions (invisible and visible), ambiances, customs, and tendencies operating in a subtle and overt manner in the religious and temporal spheres. If he loses sight of any of these aspects mentioned he loses sight of this Anti-Mystical Organism we call Revolution— "a movement that aims to destroy a legitimate power or order and replace it with an illegitimate power or state of things." (3)
Calculation. In the drawing room, with calm meticulousness, he observes his enemy. He lays out an orderly series of studies— ideas, institutions, ambiances, customs, and tendencies he analyzes from various angles, especially their interconnected nature and mutual influence upon each other. Thus, he becomes a master at understanding the enemy's movements. He sees his actions where most men do not. Where most men would only see the enemy's erroneous ideas in strictly theological and philosophical fields, exposed in typically shallow and cliche commentaries, he sees the hand of Revolution in certain colors, sounds, perfumes, flavors, and forms that coalesce and compose ambiances, that can "favor bad customs," (4) and "communicate to souls the tremendous toxins and energies of the revolutionary spirit." (5) Still, this is only but one angle.
Balancing of chances. Perceiving the ingenious, ruthless, and meticulous nature of the enemy he must act. Prowess and grace, and ceaseless training, spiritually, intellectually, and bodily he avails. "Knowing the Revolution in its unchanging essence and in its relevant contemporary accidents, and combating the former and the latter intelligently, astutely, and systematically," (6) he will use "every licit means and the assistance of every child of light." (7)
Victory. "The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; [...] it is in his power to control success." (8) Even if he fails due to the thousands of unforeseen incidents no mortal could hope to escape his strict modus vivendi would have secured graces for the Chuch's victory. Thus, with the aid of the Virgin Most Powerful he becomes "a conquering force […] like the bursting of pent-up waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep." (9) Sources 1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Chapter 4. Maxim 1. 2. Sun Tzu. Maxim 17. 3. Revolution and Counter-Revolution by Dr. Plinio. Chapter VII. 4. Dr. Plinio. Chapter X. 5. Dr. Plinio. Chapter X. 6. Dr. Plinio. Chapter I. 7. Dr. Plinio. Chapter I. 8. Sun Tzu. Maxim 16. 9. Sun Tzu. Maxim 20 Painting Jan Jansz by Van Buesem (Dutch, 1599 – 1649)