It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order.

When you know both yourself as well as your competition, you are never in danger. To know yourself and not others, gives you half a chance of winning. Knowing neither yourself or your competition puts you in a position to lose.

The business of a general is to kick away the ladder behind soldiers when they have climbed up a height.

There is no place where espionage is not possible.

He must be able to mystify his officers and men by false reports and appearances, and thus keep them in total ignorance.

He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.

If we know that the enemy is open to attack, but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.