To maintain an army at a distance causes the people to be impoverished.

Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.

So a military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape: the ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius.

To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful. Everyone calls victory in battle good, but it is not really good.

Factors in the art of warfare are: First, calculations; second, quantities; third, logistics; fourth, the balance of power; and fifth, the possibility of victory is based on the balance of power.

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

The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.