Crossing at a ford occurs often in a man’s lifetime. It means setting sail even though your friends stay in harbour, knowing the route, knowing the soundness of your ship and the favour of the day.
When you attack the enemy, your spirit must go to the extent of pulling the stakes out of a wall and using them as spears and halberds.
Polish your wisdom: learn public justice, distinguish between good and evil, study the ways of different arts one by one.
Whatever the Way, the master of strategy does not appear fast.
From inside fortifications, the gun has no equal among weapons. It is the supreme weapon on the field before the ranks clash, but once swords are crossed the gun becomes useless.
The bow is tactically strong at the commencement of battle, especially battles on a moor, as it is possible to shoot quickly among the spearmen.
Second is the way of the merchant. The wine maker obtains his ingredients and puts them to use to make his living. The way of the merchant is always to live by taking profit.
As far as I’m concerned, I regret nothing.
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.
In contests of strategy it is bad to be led about by the enemy. You must always be able to lead the enemy about.
Pay attention even to life’s trifles.
Fixed formation is bad. Study this well.
Never depart from the way of martial arts.
If the enemy stays spirited it is difficult to crush him.
Never stray from the Way.
One must make the warrior walk his everyday walk.
Cutting down the enemy is the way of strategy, and there is no need for many refinements of it.
The important thing in strategy is to suppress the enemy’s useful actions but allow his useless actions.
The Way of the warrior does not include other ways, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, certain traditions, artistic accomplishments, and dancing. But even though these are not part of the Way, if you know the Way broadly, you will see it in everything.
If you do not look at things on a large scale, it will be difficult to master strategy.
They speak of “This Dojo” and “That Dojo”. They are looking for profit.