In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.

What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.

Of old the expert in battle would first make himself invincible and then wait for his enemy to expose his vulnerability.

Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.

He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength.

When he utilizes combined energy, his fighting men become as it were like unto rolling logs or stones. For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round-shaped to go rolling down.

There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.