There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: recklessness, which leads to destruction; cowardice, which leads to capture; a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; a delicacy of honour, which is sensitive to shame; over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.

So the important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence.

To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.

A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.

Who can determine where one ends and the other begins?

In the tumult and uproar, the battle seems chaotic, but there is no disorder, the troops appear to be milling about in circles but cannot be defeated.

Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.