Swift as the wind. Quiet as the forest. Conquer like the fire. Steady as the mountain

The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.

So there are five ways of knowing who will win. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight are victorious. Those who discern when to use many or few troops are victorious. Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious.

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

There are routes not to be followed, armies not to be attacked, citadels not to be besieged, territory not to be fought over.

He who is not sage and wise, humane and just, cannot use secret agent.s. And he who is not delicate and subtle cannot get the truth out of them.

If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless.