The difficulty of tactical maneuvering consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.
He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.
Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.
Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.
If an enemy has alliances, the problem is grave and the enemy's position strong; if he has no alliances, the problem is minor and the enemy's position weak.
The value of time, that is of being a little ahead of your opponent, often provides greater advantage than superior numbers or greater resources.