The successful person has unusual skill at dealing with conflict and ensuring the best outcome for all.

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

And therefore only the enlightened sovereign and the worthy general who are able to use the most intelligent people as agents are certain to achieve great things.

The ultimate in disposing one's troops is to be without ascertainable shape. Then the most penetrating spies cannot pry in nor can the wise lay plans against you.

Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow.

In conflict, straightforward actions generally lead to engagement, surprising actions generally lead to victory.

Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits; it cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.