The sovereign must have full knowledge of the activities of the five sorts of agents. This knowledge must come from the double agents, and therefore it is mandatory that they be treated with the utmost liberality.

When the leader is morally weak and his discipline not strict, when his instructions and guidance are not enlightened, when there are no consistent rules, neighboring rulers will take advantage of this.

He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

The control of a large force is the same principle as the control of a few men: it is merely a question of dividing up their numbers.

Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain

Getting people to fight by letting the force of momentum work is like rolling logs and rocks. Logs and rocks are still when in a secure place, but roll on an incline; they remain stationary if square, they roll if round. Therefore, when people are skillfully led into battle, the momentum is like that of round rocks rolling down a high mountain - this is force.

Thus, though I have heard of successful military operations that were clumsy but swift, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.