The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win without fighting.

Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight.

He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

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

Thus, though I have heard of successful military operations that were clumsy but swift, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.

He who knows things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated.