If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow.
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
When I have won a victory I do not repeat my tactics but respond to circumstances in an infinite variety of ways.
All warfare is based on deception. There is no place where espionage is not used. Offer the enemy bait to lure him.
Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.
In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power.
Act after having made assessments. The one who first knows the measure of far and near wins - this is the rule of armed struggle.
Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.
Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.
The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.
If their forces are substantial, prepare for them; if their forces are strong, avoid them.
Of old the expert in battle would first make himself invincible and then wait for his enemy to expose his vulnerability.
Victory usually goes to the army who has better trained officers and men.
He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.
The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.
He who relies solely on warlike measures shall be exterminated; he who relies solely on peaceful measures shall perish.
Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization.
One need not destroy one's enemy. One need only destroy his willingness to engage.
Don't flail against the world, use it. Flexibility is the operative principle in the art of war.
So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.
With regard to narrow passes, if you can occupy them first, let them be strongly garrisoned and await the advent of the enemy.
The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.
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.
You can prevent your opponent from defeating you through defense, but you cannot defeat him without taking the offensive.
Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.
If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
First learn to become invincible, then wait for your enemy's moment of vulnerability.
One who speaks deferentially but increases his preparations will advance. One who speaks belligerently and advances hastily will retreat.
A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.
