Sun Tzu

There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: recklessness, which leads to destruction; cowardice, which leads to capture; a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; a delicacy of honor, which is sensitive to shame; over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.

When the enemy is relaxed, make them toil. When full, starve them. When settled, make them move.

If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him.

Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

If words are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame.

Rewards for good service are not to be a matter of routine, nor punishments for bad service a matter of course.

Never venture on a campaign until you have made your preparations in every respect.

Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength.

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.

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 thereafter looks for victory.

The commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.

The line between disorder and order lies in logistics.

If I am able to determine the enemy's dispositions while at the same time I conceal my own, then I can concentrate and he must divide.

Speed is the essence of war.

The ultimate in flexibility consists in coming to rest at the precise moment when the enemy is taken by surprise.

If the enemy is in the habit of using spies, send your own to deceive them.

Avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.

The peak efficiency of knowledge and strategy is to make conflict unnecessary.

There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever be seen. There are not more than five musical notes, yet in combination they produce more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet in combination they produce more flavors than can ever be tasted.