In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.

The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent's strategy.

Don't flail against the world, use it. Flexibility is the operative principle in the art of war.

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

And therefore only the enlightened sovereign and the worthy general who are able to use the most intelligent people as agents are certain to achieve great things.

If I am able to determine the enemy's dispositions while at the same time I conceal my own, then I can concentrate and he must divide.