There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.

He who is not sage and wise, humane and just, cannot use secret agent.s. And he who is not delicate and subtle cannot get the truth out of them.

Birds rising in flight is a sign that the enemy is lying in ambush; when the wild animals are startled and flee he is trying to take you unaware.

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.

One who has few must prepare against the enemy; one who has many makes the enemy prepare against him.

The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win without fighting.

Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.