Spies are a most important element in water, because on them depends an army's ability to move.

It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order.

If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow...they have form but are formless. They are skilled in both planning and adapting and need not fear the result of a thousand battles: for they win in advance, defeating those that have already lost.

He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

To capture an enemies army is better than to destroy it.

The essential factor of military success is speed, that is taking advantage of others' unpreparedness or lack of foresight, their failure to catch up, going by routes they do not expect, attacking where they are not on guard. This you cannot accomplish with hesitation.