Art Of Conflict

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

To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence
Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without having to fight

If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt
If you know heaven and you know earth, you may make your victory

If you know the enemy and you 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

Treat your soldiers as your beloved children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys
To defeat your enemy, you must pretend inferiority and encourage your enemy's arrogance
Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated

There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare

Speed is the essence of war

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 our enemy

Not on the chance of our enemies not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable

The general who advances without seeking fame, and who retreats without fear of disgrace - whose only thought is to protect his country, and do service for his sovereign - is the jewel of his kingdom

The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won; whereas he who is destined for defeat first fights, then afterwards looks for victory

Speed is the essence of war

Only he who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war can thoroughly understand how to profit from waging war