No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans.
War is what happens when language fails.
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded, Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed, Everybody knows that the war is over, Everybody knows the good guys lost.
Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death.
If you want to learn the craft of war, ponder over this book. The teacher is as a needle, the disciple is as thread. You must practice constantly.
Polish your wisdom: learn public justice, distinguish between good and evil, study the ways of different arts one by one.
It is imperative to master the principles of the art of war and learn to be unmoved in mind even in the heat of the battle.
If wars can be started by lies, they can be stopped by truth.
The best form of defense is attack.
There is only one decisive victory: the last.
The will to conquer is the first condition of victory.
I have not yet begun to fight!
I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.
Miseram pacem vel bello bene mutari. Even war is preferable to a shameful peace.
This is a war to end all wars.
It is a doctrine of war not to assume the enemy will not come, but rather to rely on one’s readiness to meet him; not to presume that he will not attack, but rather to make one’s self invincible.
Do not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy’s terms.
What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.
All warfare is based on deception. If your enemy is superior, evade him. If angry, irritate him. If equally matched, fight and if not: split and re-evaluate.