If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely traced out on the ground. All we need to do is to throw something odd and unaccountable in his way.
If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve.
Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.
Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.
If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose.
A kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.
It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy’s one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.
Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.
When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.
Appraise war in terms of the fundamental factors. The first of these factors is moral influence.
The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.
If there is disturbance in the camp, the general’s authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the officers are angry, it means that the men are weary.
He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.
Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.
According to my assessment, even if you have many more troops than others, how can that help you to victory?
Now a soldier’s spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is only on returning to camp.
Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you now Heaven and you know Earth, you may make your victory complete.
It is imperative to contest all factions for complete victory, so the army is not garrisoned and the profit can be total. This is the law of strategic siege.
When a general, unable to estimate the enemy’s strength, allows an inferior force to engage a larger one, or hurls a weak detachment against a powerful one, and neglects to place picked soldiers in the front rank, the result must be rout.
If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless.