"The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand."

"Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will w…"

"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."

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

"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 thereafter looks for victory."