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

The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The general that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat: - let such a one be dismissed!

The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.

Be the first to seize intersecting ground, that is ground which lies the intersections of borders or intersections of main thoroughfares of commerce and travel. Your occupation of it gives you access to all who border it and all who would covet it. On intersecting ground, if you establish alliances you are safe, if you lose alliances you are in peril.

If this is long delayed, weapons are blunted and morale depressed.

For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards.

Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this.