There is nothing more difficult than tactical maneuvering. The difficult consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain. Thus, to take a long and circuitous route after enticing the enemy out of the way, and though starting after him to contrive to reach the goal before him, shows knowledge of the artifice of deviation.

Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory.

All warfare is based on deception. If your enemy is superior, evade him. If angry, irritate him. If equally matched, fight and if not: split and re-evaluate.

In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good.

The nature of war is constant change.

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

For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards.