This does not mean that the enemy is to be allowed to escape. The object is to make him believe that there is a road to safety, and thus prevent his fighting with the courage of despair. After that, you may crush him.

The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.

The best general is the one who never fights.

Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

Without harmony in the State, no military expedition can be undertaken; without harmony in the army, no battle array can be formed.

You can prevent your opponent from defeating you through defense, but you cannot defeat him without taking the offensive.

Be subtle! be subtle! and use your spies for every kind of business.