Nothing is harder to see into thanpeoples nature. The sage looks at subtle phenomena and listens tosmall voices. This harmonizes the outside with the inside and the inside with the outside.

Opportunistic relationships can hardly be kept constant. The acquaintance of honorable people, even at a distance, does not add flowers in times of warmth and does not change its leaves in times of cold: it continues unfading through the four seasons, becomes increasingly stable as it passes through ease and danger.

Do the unexpected, attack the unprepared.

First organize the inner, then organize the outer ... First organize the great, then organize the small. First organize yourself, and then organize others.

Good generals select intelligent officers, thoughtful advisors, and brave subordinates. They oversee their troops like a fierce tiger with wings.

The wise win before they fight, while the ignorant fight to win.

An enlightened ruler doesnot worry about people not knowing him; he worriesabout not knowing people.