Secrecy is a method of concealing your tactical information and status from the adversary for the purpose of minimizing their strategic advantage. Producing an advantage for the entity or individual utilizing secrecy as your adversary generates war planning from inaccurate tactical information.
At a philosophical level Secrecy is a form of deceit due to it’s reality distorting nature. The question about its ethics depends on the motive of the person or entity deploying it.
Ultimately Secrecy has the ability to be even more damaging to the entity deploying it if the execution fails. If what was believed to be unknown is known to the adversary, they have the ability to modify their tactical plan causing severely damaging implications.
A failed secret not only delivers current tactical capability, but also your adversary’s motives and intentions.
Sun Tsu
If someone deceives you they are at war with you whether it be passively or actively. They are trying to manipulate gain from your loss.
We decide by our own actions if we are at war with them. If we have the courage to stand with truth and stay off the battlefield. Your adversary’s deceit will become their only enemy.
“For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”
Jesus Christ
“To win 100 battles is not the height of skill, to subdue the enemy without fighting is.”
Sun Tsu
With anything in life we have a choice to stand with truth or deploy deceit to accomplish our objectives or cover our past mistakes. Deceit against deceit will never produce an honorable victor.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The Apostle Paul
Honorable behavior and speaking the truth even in the light of our own mistakes is the only way to conquer the adversary whether it be a person or our own demons. When dealing with people or entities that deploy deceit the only way to overcome the battle is by having the courage to stand and speak the truth. The weak pick up the sword and step on the battlefield of war that is deceit. Without an enemy to fight the adversary’s only enemy is the product of their own deceit.
Avoid what is strong, attack what is weak
Sun Tsu
In the darkness of the battlefield your adversary is strong because you have entered the world of their deceit. When alone on the battlefield they are forced to deal with their truth as they are their only enemy. As the light of truth shines on them their weakness will be revealed.
Sun Tsu states war is of vital importance to the state, Christ teaches it is what destroys the spirit. In our lives we all must decide if the castles that we defend are on Earth or in Heaven.
Know your enemy and know yourself and in 100 battles you will never be in peril.
Sun Tsu
