Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory.

A sovereign of high character and intelligence must be able to know the right man, should place the responsibility on him, and expect results.

Unless you enter the tiger's lair, you cannot get hold of the tiger's cub's.

The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle

Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.

Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.