A kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

Hence the experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.

In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

Attack where he is unprepared; sally forth when he does not expect you.

When you shoot a bow and arrow, you aim at the clouds, not because you expect to hit them, but so that you may reach the distant target on the ground.

When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of its momentum. When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing.

In desperate position, you must fight.