Know the enemy, know yourself; your victory will never be endangered. Know the ground, know the weather; your victory will then be total.

All war is based on deception.

If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless.

When he pretends to flee, do not pursue.

Without local guides, your enemy employs the land as a weapon against you.

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.

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