Sun Tzu

Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.

In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity

One hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful, subduing the other's military without battle is the most skillful.

Understand both yourself and your enemy, and you shall always emerge victorious

Foreknowledge cannot be gotten from ghosts and spirits, cannot be had by analogy, cannot be found out by calculation. It must be obtained from people, people who know the conditions of the enemy.

Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.

If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive;and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attachedto you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be unless.

Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.

War is like a fire - if you do not put it out, it will burn itself out.

When you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from the leeward.

For should the enemy strengthen his van, he will weaken his rear; should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his van; should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right; should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left. If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.

Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army that is returning home.

It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.

the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be obliged to relieve.

Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.

Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.

Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.