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

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.

The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.

If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.

When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.

Ground which can be freely traversed by both sides is called accessible.

The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.