If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is death.

When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.

To capture the enemy's entire army is better than to destroy it; to take intact a regiment, a company, or a squad is better than to destroy them. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the supreme of excellence. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence.

Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.

The skilful employer of men will employ the wise man, the brave man, the covetous man, and the stupid man.

Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans, the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces, the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field, and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack.. the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.