Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.

You can prevent your opponent from defeating you through defense, but you cannot defeat him without taking the offensive.

Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow.

If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.

He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.

In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power.

To plan secretly, to move surreptitiously, to foil the enemy's intentions and balk his schemes, so that at last the day may be won without shedding a drop of blood.