Sun Tzu

If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected .

One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all.

To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

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

Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment _ that which they cannot anticipate.

The wise warrior avoids the battle.

There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combinationthey produce more hues than can ever been seen.There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations ofthem yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.

You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.

Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.

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.

All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

Victory usually goes to the army who has better trained officers and men.

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

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.

He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.