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

The value of time, that is of being a little ahead of your opponent, often provides greater advantage than superior numbers or greater resources.

Winning isn't enough. The acme of all skill is to defeat your enemy before taking the field.

He who knows his enemy and himself well will not be defeated easily.

With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.

Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits; it cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.

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.