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

If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented. The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless: if it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it nor the wise make plans against it.

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

If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.

Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.

One need not destroy one's enemy. One need only destroy his willingness to engage.

Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled against another ten times its size, the result will be the flight of the former.