Quotes

When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.

Opportunities multiply as they are seized.

There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted.

Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

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

He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.

He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

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

Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory:

14. 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 neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.

Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.

Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

7. If the mind is willing, the flesh could go on and on without many things.

Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.