Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
Conform to the enemy's tactics until a favorable opportunity offers; then come forth and engage in a battle that shall prove decisive.
Conceal your dispositions, and your condition will remain secret, which leads to victory; show your dispositions, and your condition will become patent, which leads to defeat.
All war is based on deception.
If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.
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 obey...
The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points;
No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify hisown spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique.If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, staywhere you a...
Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.
Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster
In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack--the
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.
If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.
By reinforcing every part, he weakens every part.
If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him. Though an obstinate fight may be made by a small...
If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know...
If quick, I survive.
Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength.