You can ensure the success of your attacks if you only attack places that are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. Therefore, that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

Be where your enemy is not.

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

Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.

No nation has ever benefited from a prolonged war.

A warrior who is prepared to fight must also be prepared to die.

Birds rising in flight is a sign that the enemy is lying in ambush; when the wild animals are startled and flee he is trying to take you unaware.