# The use of spies: information from people: summary

Discusses the value of information, the people and systems handling it and the importance of human knowledge of the other side.

https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi/chapter-13-the-use-of-spies-information-from-people

## Source and summary

[Sunzi · The Art of War · The use of spies: information from people](https://zh.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E5%AD%AB%E5%AD%90%E5%85%B5%E6%B3%95&oldid=7906064#%E7%94%A8%E9%96%93%E7%AC%AC%E5%8D%81%E4%B8%89)

> 孫子曰：凡興師十萬，出征千里，百姓之費，公家之奉，日費千金，內外騷動，怠于道路，不得操事者，七十萬家。相守數年，以爭一日之勝，而愛爵祿百金，不知敵之情者，不仁之至也，非人之將也，非…

Discusses the value of information, the people and systems handling it and the importance of human knowledge of the other side.

## Editorial interpretation

The example below adapts this chapter’s questions to modern work. Evaluate it against the actual purpose and conditions; ancient politics, warfare or ethics do not establish business results.

## Business application

Use consented customer interviews and public materials rather than guesses; record dates and whether evidence is direct or secondhand.

1. Choose one relevant case and record its objective, available resources, verified facts and unknowns.
2. Compare options using this chapter’s perspective; choose a limited trial, owner, deadline and a measure to assess the result.

Deliverable: A comparison using the use of spies: information from people, with conditions for acting or declining.

## Limits

The summary selects main points rather than translating every sentence. The example is not a demonstrated business method; check it against stakeholders’ conditions and actual evidence.

## Validation question

How does this chapter’s perspective change the selected option or priority, and what further evidence could change the decision?

[The Art of War: a guide to key ideas](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/sunzi)

[This material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/sunzi/chapter-13-the-use-of-spies-information-from-people.en.md)

Updated: 2026-10-13 · v1.0.0