One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant.
He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.
To Subdue an enemy without fighting is the greatest of skills
When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is insubordination. When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is collapse.
Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.
There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him
Go into emptiness, strike voids, bypass what he defends hit him where he does not expect you.
Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger.
Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.
It is the business of a general to be quiet and thus ensure secrecy; upright and just, and thus maintain order.
Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight. If they will face death, there is nothing they may not achieve.
Until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared
It is ten thousand times cheaper to pay the best spies lavishly than even a tiny army poorly.
Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.
When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.
The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they will become double agents and available for our service. It is through the information brought by the double agent that we are able to acquire and employ local and inward spies. It is owing to his information, again, that we can cause the doomed spy to carry false tidings to the enemy.
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.
All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
For the wise man delights in establishing his merit, the brave man likes to show his courage in action, the covetous man is quick at seizing advantages, and the stupid man has no fear of death.
Winning isn't enough. The acme of all skill is to defeat your enemy before taking the field.
To a surrounded enemy, you must leave a way of escape.
If the enemy opens the door, you must race in.
Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.
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