The essential factor of military success is speed, that is taking advantage of others' unpreparedness or lack of foresight, their failure to catch up, going by routes they do not expect, attacking where they are not on guard. This you cannot accomplish with hesitation.

Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.

All wars are won or lost before they are ever fought.

These are six ways of courting defeat, which must be carefully noted by the general who has attained a responsible post.

The military has no constant form, just as water has no constant shape - adapt as you face the enemy, without letting them know beforehand what you are going to do.

When a general, unable to estimate the enemy's strength, allows an inferior force to engage a larger one, or hurls a weak detachment against a powerful one, and neglects to place picked soldiers in the front rank, the result must be rout.

The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.