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.

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.

Of old the expert in battle would first make himself invincible and then wait for his enemy to expose his vulnerability.

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

There is nothing more difficult than tactical maneuvering. The difficult consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain. Thus, to take a long and circuitous route after enticing the enemy out of the way, and though starting after him to contrive to reach the goal before him, shows knowledge of the artifice of deviation.

The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent's strategy.