From a position of this sort, if the enemy is unprepared, you may sally forth and defeat him. But if the enemy is prepared for your coming, and you fail to defeat him, then, return being impossible, disaster will ensue.

As water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions.

If you are strong, appear weak. But if you are weak, appear strong.

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

In the tumult and uproar, the battle seems chaotic, but there is no disorder, the troops appear to be milling about in circles but cannot be defeated.