Someone unfamiliar with the mountains and forests cannot advance [the team]. One who does not employ local guides cannot gain the advantage.

To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful. Everyone calls victory in battle good, but it is not really good.

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

It is the business of a general to be serene and inscrutable, impartial and self-controlled.

No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.

Do not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy's terms.

Too frequent rewards indicate that the general is at the end of his resources; too frequent punishments that he is in acute distress.