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.

Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy’s purpose.

who does not know the evils of war cannot appreciate its benefits

He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.

If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.

All war is based on deception.

Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.

If there is disturbance in the camp, the general’s authority is weak. 

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather...

If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.

If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive;and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attachedto you, punishments are not enforced,...

If we wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, we must not fix our minds on that alone, but allow for the possibility of the enemy also doing some harm to us, and let...

The art of war is the art of deception.

So there are five ways of knowing who will win. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight are victorious. Those who discern when to use many or few troops are victorious....

So the important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence.

To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.

Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack.

When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.

do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat

The skillful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field. With his forces intact he disputes...

Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy.

All warfare is based on deception.

the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

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;

There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general:(1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction;(2) cowardice, which leads to capture;(3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults;(4) a delicacy of honor which is...

To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.

All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.

Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.

first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle; if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute strength alone, victory will no longer be assured

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

One who sets the entire army in motion to chase an advantage will not attain it.

To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful. Everyone calls victory in battle good, but it is not really good.

The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which...

He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.

Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise; for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.

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.

In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace. The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to...

Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.

Therefore the skilful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.

It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy’s one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.

When your army has crossed the border, you should burn your boats and bridges, in order to make it clear to everybody that you have no hankering after home.

Plan for what it is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.

Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

The skilful employer of men will employ the wise man, the brave man, the covetous man, and the stupid man.

But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If...

We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country — its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps.

If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.