He who knows his enemy and himself well will not be defeated easily.

Bestow rewards without regard to rule, issue orders without regard to previous arrangements; and you will be able to handle a whole army as though you had to do with but a single man.

It is ten thousand times cheaper to pay the best spies lavishly than even a tiny army poorly.

Every battle is won before it is fought.

Thus those skilled in war subdue the enemy's army without battle .... They conquer by strategy.

The business of a general is to kick away the ladder behind soldiers when they have climbed up a height.

Against those skilled in attack, an enemy does not know where to defend; against the experts in defense, the enemy does not know where to attack.