Bestow rewards without respect to customary practice; publish orders without respect to precedent. Thus you may employ the entire army as you would one man.

Those who would wage war, should first eliminate all domestic enemies before proceeding to attack the external foe.

Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength.

When you shoot a bow and arrow, you aim at the clouds, not because you expect to hit them, but so that you may reach the distant target on the ground.

If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.

In war, practice dissimulation and you will succeed.

Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.