The best general is the one who never fights.

A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.

In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

Who can determine where one ends and the other begins?

Where the army is, prices are high; when prices rise the wealth of the people is exhausted.

The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points; and his forces being thus distributed in many directions, the numbers we shall have to face at any given point will be proportionately few.

If the enemy has occupied them before you, do not follow him, but retreat and try to entice him away.