Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.

So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.

The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.

Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small. The difficult things in this world must be done while they are easy, the greatest things in the world must be done while they are still small. For this reason sages never do what is great, and this is why they achieve greatness.

Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.

An army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water avoids the heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids strength and strikes weakness.

Defeat the enemies strategy.