If I wish to engage, then the enemy, for all his high ramparts and deep moat, cannot avoid engagement; I attack that which he is obliged to rescue.

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.

No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.

One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all.

Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.

Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him

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.