If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose.

Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.

This does not mean that the enemy is to be allowed to escape. The object is to make him believe that there is a road to safety, and thus prevent his fighting with the courage of despair. After that, you may crush him.

Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.

Without local guides, your enemy employs the land as a weapon against you.

To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.

When the leader is morally weak and his discipline not strict, when his instructions and guidance are not enlightened, when there are no consistent rules, neighboring rulers will take advantage of this.