A battle avoided cannot be lost.

The end and aim of spying in all its five varieties is knowledge of the enemy; and this knowledge can only be derived, in the first instance, from the converted spy. Hence it is essential that the converted spy be treated with the utmost liberality.

One need not destroy one's enemy. One need only destroy his willingness to engage.

Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.

A sovereign of high character and intelligence must be able to know the right man, should place the responsibility on him, and expect results.

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

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.