He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; kind-hearted, but unable to enforce your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children; they are useless for any practical purpose.

With regard to precipitous heights, if you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots, and there wait for him to come up.

Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.

He who is not sage and wise, humane and just, cannot use secret agent.s. And he who is not delicate and subtle cannot get the truth out of them.

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

Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.