Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small. The difficult things in this world must be done while they are easy, the greatest things in the world must be done while they are still small. For this reason sages never do what is great, and this is why they achieve greatness.

The business of a general is to kick away the ladder behind soldiers when they have climbed up a height.

Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.

Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy... use the conquered foe to augment one's own strength.

When he pretends to flee, do not pursue.

Therefore the skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.

If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.