Know thy enemy and know thy self and you will win a hundred battles.

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.

Sweat more during peace: bleed less during war

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.

In your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise: which of the two generals has the most ability? on which side is Discipline most rigorously enforced? which army is stronger? on which side are the officers and men more highly trained? in which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?

To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful. Everyone calls victory in battle good, but it is not really good.

Apparent confusion is a product of good order; apparent cowardice, of courage; apparent weakness, of strength.