To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.

When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.

He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

Apparent confusion is a product of good order; apparent cowardice, of courage; apparent weakness, of strength.

What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.

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

The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.