At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.
The best general is the one who never fights.
It is more important to outhink your enemy, than to outfight him.
The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands.
When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.
For the wise man delights in establishing his merit, the brave man likes to show his courage in action, the covetous man is quick at seizing advantages, and the stupid man has no fear of death.
The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.
Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength.
It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus double agents are recruited and used.
If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.
O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible and hence we can hold the enemy’s fate in our hands.
Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.
In warfare, there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent will succeed and win.
When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal.
It is sufficient to estimate the enemy situation correctly and to concentrate your strength to capture him. There is no more to it than this. He who lacks foresight and underestimates his enemy will surely be captured by him.
I will be able to forecast which side will be victorious and which defeated.
It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see the outward aspects, none understands the way in which I have created victory.
Set the troops to their tasks without imparting your designs.
Therefore, to estimate the enemy situation and to calculate distances and the degree of difficulty of the terrain so as to control victory are virtues of the superior general.
And therefore only the enlightened sovereign and the worthy general who are able to use the most intelligent people as agents are certain to achieve great things.