There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.

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To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence. Neither is it the acme of excellence if you fight and conquer and the whole Empire says, “Well done!”

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On open ground, do not try to block the enemy’s way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies.

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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.

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Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger.

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If we know that the enemy is open to attack, and also know that our men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the nature of the ground makes fighting impracticable, we have gone only halfway towards victory.

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None in the whole army are more intimate relations to be maintained than with spies. None should be more liberally rewarded. In no other business should greater secrecy be preserved.

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At the critical moment, the leader of an army acts like one who has climbed up a height and then kicks away the ladder behind him. He carries his men deep into hostile territory before he shows his hand.

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That the impact of your army may be like a grindstone dashed against an egg - this is effected by the science of weak points and strong.

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Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.

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When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.

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When in difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high roads intersect, join hands with your allies. Do not linger in dangerously isolated positions. In hemmed-in situations, you must resort to stratagem. In desperate position, you must fight.

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Attack your enemy where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

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Now the general is the bulwark of the State; if the bulwark is complete at all points; the State will be strong; if the bulwark is defective, the State will be weak.

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Carefully study the well-being of your men, and do not overtax them. Concentrate your energy and hoard your strength. Keep your army continually on the move, and devise unfathomable plans.

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Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.

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Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.

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The proper season for attacking with fire is when the weather is very dry; the special days are those when the moon is in the constellations of the Sieve, the Wall, the Wing or the Cross-bar; for these four are all days of rising wind.

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Country in which there are precipitous cliffs with torrents running between, deep natural hollows, confined places, tangled thickets, quagmires and crevasses, should be left with all possible speed and not approached.

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By holding out advantages to him, the clever combatant can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or, by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near.

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