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

These are the six ways of courting defeat - neglect to estimate the enemy's strength; want of authority; defective training; unjustifiable anger; nonobservance of discipline; failure to use picked men.

Of all those in the army close to the commander none is more intimate than the secret agent; of all rewards none more liberal than those given to secret agents; of all matters none is more confidential than those relating to secret operations.

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

Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.

Probe him and learn where his strength is abundant and where deficient.

The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.