In warfare, first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle; if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute strength alone, victory will no longer be assured.

Ponder and deliberate before you make your move. He will conquer who has learned the artifice of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering.

If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.

A leader leads by example not by force.

The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.

As water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions.

When you know both yourself as well as your competition, you are never in danger. To know yourself and not others, gives you half a chance of winning. Knowing neither yourself or your competition puts you in a position to lose.