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.

When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.

Thus those skilled in war subdue the enemy's army without battle .... They conquer by strategy.

When you shoot a bow and arrow, you aim at the clouds, not because you expect to hit them, but so that you may reach the distant target on the ground.

The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

The skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting.

Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.