So there are five ways of knowing who will win. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight are victorious. Those who discern when to use many or few troops are victorious. Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious.

Who can determine where one ends and the other begins?

Those who excel in war first cultivate their own humanity and and maintain their laws and institutions. By these means they make their governments invincible.

In war, practice dissimulation and you will succeed.

Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

One whose troops repeatedly congregate in small groups here and there, whispering together, has lost the masses. One who frequently grants rewards is in deep distress. One who frequently imposes punishments is in great difficulty. One who is at first excessively brutal and then fears the masses is the pinnacle of stupidity.