Just as water retains no constant shape, so in healthcare, no constant conditions

Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards.

So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.

Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.

Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.

He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.

The five elements (water, fire, wood, metal, earth) are not always equally predominant; the four seasons make way for each other in turn. There are short days and long; the moon has its periods of waning and waxing.

From "Sun Tzu on the Art of War - The Oldest Military Treatise in the World"

Translated from the Chinese By Lionel Giles, M.A. (1910)

Discussion:

This part is rather straight forward translation. However, the last paragraph may well stay as it is but a trial was made to put it into the context of the whole system approach in the healthcare.

Translation:

Treatment designs are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards.

So in treatment the way is to avoid what is contraindication and to look at what is indicating.

Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the practitioner works out the care plan tailored to the patient conditions which the team is facing.

Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in healthcare there are no constant conditions.

Those who can modify their care plan in relation to patient's needs and thereby succeed in treatment, may be called an excellent healthcare performance.

The five elements (medicine, surgery, nursing, allied health, administration) have no fixated priorities; the acute and chronic make way for each other in turn. There are short stays and long; the health demand has its periods of waning and waxing.

Ray Murakami

Do not repeat the treatment which have gained you one good result

Though according to my estimate the soldiers of Yueh exceed our own in number, that shall advantage them nothing in the matter of victory. I say then that victory can be achieved.

Though the enemy be stronger in numbers, we may prevent him from fighting. Scheme so as to discover his plans and the likelihood of their success.

Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.

Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.

In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them; conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying of the subtlest spies, from the machinations of the wisest brains.

How victory may be produced for them out of the enemy's own tactics--that is what the multitude cannot comprehend.

All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.

From "Sun Tzu on the Art of War - The Oldest Military Treatise in the World"

Translated from the Chinese By Lionel Giles, M.A. (1910)

Discussion:

The protection of population against epidemics is often misunderstood by the general public. Each time an epidemic of an exotic and deadly disease in foreign country floods news media, people often are panicked as though the disease mentioned is just outside of their doorsteps. However, such a news  scrum rarely encourages people to immunise against known but potentially deadly diseases. Sun Tzu's tricks on how to deceive enemies, which interestingly correspond to tactics to battle against contagious pathogens, also remind us on difficulties of publicising population health policies including epidemic prevention.

Translation:

Though according to the expert's estimate the outbreaks of infection exceed our immunisation in number, that shall advantage them nothing in the matter of quarantine. I say then that quarantine can be achieved.

Though the pathogen be stronger in numbers, we may prevent it from spreading. Scheme so as to discover its patterns and the likelihood of their spread.

Cultivate it, and learn the principle of its activity or inactivity. Force it to reveal itself, so as to find out its vulnerable spots.

Carefully compare the emerging pathogen with the already known, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.

In making tactical population protection, the highest pitch you can attain is to isolate them; isolate your population, and you will be safe from the prying of the subtlest contacts, from the infection of the most contagious strains.

How protection may be produced for people out of the disease's own pathogens--that is what the multitude cannot comprehend.

All people can see the treatment whereby the medicine conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which treatment is evolved.

Do not repeat the treatment which have gained you one good result, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.

Ray Murakami