To capture an enemies army is better than to destroy it.

Perfection in war lies in so sapping your opponents will that he surrenders without fighting.

When you do battle, even if you are winning, if you continue for a long time it will dull your forces and blunt you edge...If you keep your armies out in the field for a long time, your supplies will be insufficient. Transportation of provisions itself consumes 20 times the amount transported.

In war, practice dissimulation and you will succeed.

If I am able to determine the enemy's dispositions while at the same time I conceal my own, then I can concentrate and he must divide.

Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.

Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.