When orders are consistently trustworthy and observed, the relationship of a commander with his troops is satisfactory.

There are three ways in which a ruler can bring misfortune on his army: By commanding the army to advance or to retreat, being ignorant of the fact that it cannot obey. This is called hobbling the army. By attempting to govern an army in the same way as he administers a kingdom, being ignorant of the conditions which obtain in an army. This causes restlessness in the soldier's minds. By employing the officers of his army without discrimination, through ignorance of the military principle of adaptation to circumstances. This shakes the confidence of the soldiers.

The nature of war is constant change.

If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose.

Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this.

When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal.

Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuvering for advantageous positions.