The way to avoid what is strong is to strike what is weak.
Warfare is the Tao of deception.
Nothing is more difficult than the art of maneuvering for advantageous
positions.
Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the
spirit of enterprise, for the result is a waste of time and general stagnation.
He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.
In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining
battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory. In battle, there are not more than
two methods of attack - the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of maneuvers.
The direct and the indirect lead on to each other in turn. It is like moving in a circle - you never come to an end. Who can
exhaust the possibilities of their combination?
Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what
to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.
Rapidity is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness,
make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.
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.
Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs
away from high places and hastens downwards... Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it
flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains
no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation
to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.
A victorious army wins its victories before seeking battle.
