The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands

A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.

Subtle and insubstantial, the expert leaves no trace; divinely mysterious, he is inaudible. Thus he is master of his enemy's fate.

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.

When a general, unable to estimate the enemy's strength, allows an inferior force to engage a larger one, or hurls a weak detachment against a powerful one, and neglects to place picked soldiers in the front rank, the result must be rout.

Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy

It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.