Carefully study the well-being of your men, and do not overtax them. Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your army continually on the move, and devise unfathomable plans.
To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful. Everyone calls victory in battle good, but it is not really good.
The ultimate in disposing one’s troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.
The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.
Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits; it cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.
Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.
Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuvering for advantageous positions.
Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity.
So there are five ways of knowing who will win. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight are victorious. Those who discern when to use many or few troops are victorious. Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious.
Knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions can only be obtained from other men.
The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.
If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.
When the enemy is at ease, be able to weary him; when well fed, to starve him; when at rest, to make him move. Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of its momentum. When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing.
Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous.
Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve.
Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements; and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man.
Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.
Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.
Should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.