Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.

If a battle can not be won do not fight it.

If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.

It is ten thousand times cheaper to pay the best spies lavishly than even a tiny army poorly.

No nation has ever benefited from a prolonged war.

Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow...they have form but are formless. They are skilled in both planning and adapting and need not fear the result of a thousand battles: for they win in advance, defeating those that have already lost.

Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve.