In desperate position, you must fight.

Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.

There are routes not to be followed, armies not to be attacked, citadels not to be besieged, territory not to be fought over.

When the position is such that neither side will gain by making the first move, it is called temporising ground.

Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this.

When the enemy is at ease, be able to weary him; when well fed, to starve him; when at rest, to make him move. Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.

To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.