Hence a commander who advances without any thought of winning personal fame andwithdraws in spite of certain punishment, whose only concern is to protect his people and promote the interests of his ruler, is the nation’s treasure.

So veiled and subtle,

The victorious army only enters battle afterhaving first won the victory, while the defeatedarmy only seeks victory after having firstentered the fray.

He who knows the enemy and himself

To win a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence; the highestexcellence is to subdue the enemy’s armywithout fighting at all.

There has never been a state that has benefited from an extended war.

War is a vital matter of state.

Warfare is the art of deceit.

War is based on deception.

Appraise war in terms of the fundamental factors. The first of these factors is moral influence.