All battles are won before they start.

Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.

All battles are won before they start.

All wars are won or lost before they are ever fought.

These are the six ways of courting defeat - neglect to estimate the enemy's strength; want of authority; defective training; unjustifiable anger; nonobservance of discipline; failure to use picked men.

If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst.

When the leader is morally weak and his discipline not strict, when his instructions and guidance are not enlightened, when there are no consistent rules, neighboring rulers will take advantage of this.