The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough; hence the institution of gongs and drums... banners and flags. Gongs and drums, banners and flags, are means whereby the ears and eyes of the host may be focused on one particular point.

No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique. If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

First learn to become invincible, then wait for your enemy's moment of vulnerability.

All wars are won or lost before they are ever fought.

In the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.

Probe him and learn where his strength is abundant and where deficient.