What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.
Every battle is won before it is fought.
So a military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape: the ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius.
To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
The good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.
If you follow the enemy's shifts and changes, you can always find a way to win.
Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.
No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.
The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.
In desperate position, you must fight.
In the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.
The military has no constant form, just as water has no constant shape - adapt as you face the enemy, without letting them know beforehand what you are going to do.
Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.
Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.
There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.
Until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared
What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.
When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are not clear and distinct; when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganization.
Who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits.
Know thy enemy and know thy self and you will win a hundred battles.
It is ten thousand times cheaper to pay the best spies lavishly than even a tiny army poorly.
Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him
One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant.
Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.
The art of using troops is this: ......When ten to the enemy's one, surround him; ......When five times his strength, attack him; ......If double his strength, divide him; ......If equally matched you may engage him; ......If weaker numerically, be capable of withdrawing; ......And if in all respects unequal, be capable of eluding him, ..........for a small force is but booty for one more powerful.
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