If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.

When you know both yourself as well as your competition, you are never in danger. To know yourself and not others, gives you half a chance of winning. Knowing neither yourself or your competition puts you in a position to lose.

As water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions.

Thus, though I have heard of successful military operations that were clumsy but swift, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.

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

Act after having made assessments. The one who first knows the measure of far and near wins - this is the rule of armed struggle.

The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win without fighting.