He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.

So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.

It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.

Fighting with a large army under your command is nowise different from fighting with a small one: it is merely a question of instituting signs and signals.

In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace. The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence under no circumstances can it be neglected.

Spies are a most important element in water, because on them depends an army's ability to move.