There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefitted.

Invincibility is in oneself, and vulnerability is in the opponent. Invincibility is a matter of defense, vulnerability is a matter of attack. Therefore skillful warriors are able to be invincible, but they cannot cause opponents to be vulnerable. That is why it is said that victory is discerned and not manufactured.

The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.

The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all.

What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed: One cannot afford to neglect opportunity.

Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuvering for advantageous positions.