If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.

He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

Thus the highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans, the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces, the next in order is to attack the enemy's army in the field, and the worst policy of all is to besiege walled cities.

The control of large numbers is possible, and like unto that of small numbers, if we subdivide them.

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

So a military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape: the ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius.

The natural formation of the country is the soldier's best ally