Write By Example Of This What It Takes To Be A General Essay

A general is one of the most important ranks in an army; as a consequence, it is also one of the most important positions for the nation as a whole. Sun Zi states five dangerous qualities that a general may have (Mair 107). Of these, two are seemingly contradictory, so it is interesting to study the consequences that may stem from definitely wanting to die and definitely wanting to live for a general.
The first of these is pretty obvious. A general that wants to die will not take the proper care of his own life as to secure it. Therefore, he may commit actions that lead not just to his killing, but that of his whole army as well. This is obviously an unsound position for a general, as his important role depends on him being alive.
Nevertheless, the danger of wanting to be alive is also great, and much less counterintuitive. It is a peril for a general to want to be alive because he could be captured and surrender important secrets if his life were threatened, for example. Furthermore, he may do everything in his power to keep himself alive, including actions that may not necessarily be in the best interests of the people he is fighting for. Therefore, it is also dangerous for a general to want to be alive.
In conclusion, it is important for generals to have great passions with respect to their existence, because it may lead them to commit actions that are according to their desires, instead of the best for their army. Therefore, it is paradoxically dangerous for a general both to want to be alive and to want to die.