Unless you know the mountains and the forests, the defiles and impasses, the lay of the marshes and swamps, you cannot maneuver with an armed force. Unless you use local guides, you cannot get the advantages of the land.

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.

Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.

On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough; hence the institution of gongs and drums... banners and flags. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular point.

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

As water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions.

Pretend to be weak, so your enemy may grow arrogant.