An army may be likened to water, for just as flowing water avoids the heights and hastens to the lowlands, so an army avoids strength and strikes weakness.

The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.

Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious.

It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.

Being unconquerable lies with yourself; being conquerable lies with your enemy.

Perfection in war lies in so sapping your opponents will that he surrenders without fighting.

If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding.