Thus the skilful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.

Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits; it cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.

He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement.

Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain

Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him

You can ensure the success of your attacks if you only attack places that are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked. Therefore, that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.