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" The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. "

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

" Of all those in the army close to the commander none is more intimate than the secret agent; of all rewards none more liberal than those given to secret agents; of all matters none is more confidential than those relating to secret operations. "

" For them to perceive the advantage of defeating the enemy, they must also have their rewards. "

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

" 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. "

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

" 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. "

" 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 afterwards looks for victory. "

" If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril. "

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

" To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. "

" The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. "

" If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles. "

" Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories. "

" A good commander is benevolent and unconcerned with fame. "

" Confront them with annihilation, and they will then survive; plunge them into a deadly situation, and they will then live. When people fall into danger, they are then able to strive for victory. "

" There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited. "

" 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. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected. "

" There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare. "

" Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and you know Earth, you may make your victory complete. "

" Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge. "

" Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack. "

" He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious. "

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

" If fighting is sure to result in victory, than you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding. "

" For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill. "

" To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence. "

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

" Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared. "

" Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster. "