The value of time, that is of being a little ahead of your opponent, often provides greater advantage than superior numbers or greater resources.

Weak leadership can wreck the soundest strategy

Order or disorder depends on organisation and direction; courage or cowardice on circumstances; strength or weakness on tactical dispositions.

Who can determine where one ends and the other begins?

Being unconquerable lies with yourself; being conquerable lies with your enemy.

A sovereign of high character and intelligence must be able to know the right man, should place the responsibility on him, and expect results.

One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards is in deep distress. One who frequently imposes punishments is in great difficulty. One who is at first excessively brutal and then fears the masses is the pinnacle of stupidity.