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

Attack where he is unprepared; sally forth when he does not expect you.

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

Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.

To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.

If a battle can not be won do not fight it.

If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented. The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless: if it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it nor the wise make plans against it.