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

There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.

Quickness is the essence of the war.

When a general, unable to estimate the enemy's strength, allows an inferior force to engage a larger one, or hurls a weak detachment against a powerful one, and neglects to place picked soldiers in the front rank, the result must be rout.

Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.

If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.

To persuade your enemy to (retreat) before the fight is to defeat them even before the battle begins. An enemy made ally is no longer an enemy.