A warrior who is prepared to fight must also be prepared to die.

It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.

What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is death.

The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.