Deception

Deception is the signature claim the wiki draws from The Art of War: “All warfare is based on deception.” Sun Tzu makes it operational — “when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.” The source page links this to Game Theory, citing Wellington’s habit of framing his plans entirely on the opponent’s expected moves, “distinguished by the extraordinary skill with which he concealed his movements and deceived both friend and foe.”

Context: “All warfare is based on deception” is among the most-quoted lines of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, an ancient Chinese military treatise; the idea has been widely adapted into modern strategy, business, and game-theoretic thinking about signaling and misdirection.

Where this appears

• The Art of War — the book’s signature maxim (“All warfare is based on deception”), recurring through the highlights and tied to game-theoretic strategy