The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.

As water shapes its flow in accordance with the ground, so an army manages its victory in accordance with the situation of the enemy.

When the thunderclap comes, there is no time to cover the ears.

When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped to go rolling down.

The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win without fighting.

He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength.

There is an intelligent way to eat a live frog - I just don't know what it is.