Fierce language and pretentious advances are signs that the enemy is about to retreat.
The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.
Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack.
So the important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence.
Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.
To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.