Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

Now a soldier's spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is only on returning to camp.

As water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions.

In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

The line between disorder and order lies in logistics.

If you know both yourself and your enemy, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.

Therefore the skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.