Against those skilled in attack, an enemy does not know where to defend; against the experts in defense, the enemy does not know where to attack.

There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.

In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power.

To maintain an army at a distance causes the people to be impoverished.

Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.

It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.

The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands