Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy... use the conquered foe to augment one's own strength.

Ponder and deliberate before you make your move. He will conquer who has learned the artifice of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering.

Therefore, to estimate the enemy situation and to calculate distances and the degree of difficulty of the terrain so as to control victory are virtues of the superior general.

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

Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

the leader of armies is the arbiter of the people's fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril.