Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.

Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger.

No nation has ever benefited from a prolonged war.

If you are situated at a great distance from the enemy, and the strength of the two armies is equal, it is not easy to provoke a battle, and fighting will be to your disadvantage.

Therefore I say: know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.

Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.

One who sets the entire army in motion to chase an advantage will not attain it.