The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.

There is no place where espionage is not possible.

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

To maintain an army at a distance causes the people to be impoverished.

If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless.

When the thunderclap comes, there is no time to cover the ears.

The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch'ang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.