Know the enemy and know yourself.

Know thy enemy and know thy self and you will win a hundred battles.

Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise, for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.

The supreme excellence is not to win a hundred victories in a hundred battles. The supreme excellence is to subdue the armies of your enemies without having to fight them.

In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.

Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans, the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces, the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field, and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.