The Art of War

"A commander is victorious in advance; a commander who is defeated has already been conquered in his own mind"

"The pivot of victory lies in the arrangement of forces and in reading the enemy's intentions"

"Those who are skilled in combat do not become angered; those who are skilled in winning do not become fearful"

"Perfect strategy is to avoid battle altogether through preparation and positioning"

"The true measure of a commander is his ability to minimize casualties while maximizing victory"

"By holding out baits, you can manipulate the enemy; by pretending to retreat, you can break his spirit"

"A leader leads by example; soldiers will follow a commander who shows bravery"

"The highest excellence is like that of water, which flows freely in all directions"

"When strong, avoid your enemy; when weak, avoid his strength"

"Fire may serve as a substitute for a frontal attack in the right circumstances"

"The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand"

"Foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits, nor from the gods, but must be obtained from men"

"A victorious army seeks to win first and then seeks to engage the enemy"

"The supreme art is not to fight at all, but to win without conflict"

"To know your enemy, you must become your enemy"

"The strong and weak are matters of disposition"

"Rapidity is the essence of war"

"Secrecy is the soul of all military operations"

"The commander stands alone, responsible for the victory or defeat of his nation"

"Therefore a wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy"

"It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for purposes of spying"

"Water shapes its course based on the ground over which it flows"

"Method and discipline are your true friends; neglect them and you will surely be defeated"

"Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh and ready"

"The expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by the enemy"

"Those skilled in war subdue the enemy's army without any fighting; they take the enemy's cities without assaulting them"

"A commander of an army should know the five constant virtues: righteousness, wisdom, benevolence, honour, and strictness"

"Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack"

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not attacking, but on our own readiness to receive him"

"He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight"