Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.

And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him.

The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.

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

The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.

If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.

To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape.