"The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him."

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

"If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him."

"Never venture to attack, unless you are quite sure of success."

"The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch'ang Shan mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its…"