If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.

Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.

Of old the expert in battle would first make himself invincible and then wait for his enemy to expose his vulnerability.

No nation has ever benefited from a prolonged war.

When orders are consistently trustworthy and observed, the relationship of a commander with his troops is satisfactory.

If I wish to engage, then the enemy, for all his high ramparts and deep moat, cannot avoid engagement; I attack that which he is obliged to rescue.

Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.