And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him.

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.

Appraise war in terms of the fundamental factors. The first of these factors is moral influence.

What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

The one who figures on victory at headquarters before even doing battle is the one who has the most strategic factors on his side.

The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points; and his forces being thus distributed in many directions, the numbers we shall have to face at any given point will be proportionately few.

They [spies] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness.