He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them. |
He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious. |
He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious. |
Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack. |
I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier, I brought him up to be my pride and joy, Who dares to put a musket to his shoulder, To kill some other mother's boy |
If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result is victory, then you must not fight, even at the ruler's bidding. |
If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril. |
If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches; if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity. |
If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near. |
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 i |
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. |
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 ruin. Hence under no circumstances can it be neglected. |
In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. |
Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the Attack. |
It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus doubled agents are recruited and used. |