If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are.

When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.

When you do battle, even if you are winning, if you continue for a long time it will dull your forces and blunt you edge...If you keep your armies out in the field for a long time, your supplies will be insufficient. Transportation of provisions itself consumes 20 times the amount transported.

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

When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.

Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuver. What is difficult about maneuver is to make the devious route the most direct and to turn misfortune to advantage.

Wait by the river long enough and the body of your enemy will float by you.