In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.
Prohibit the taking of omens, and do away with superstitious doubts. Then, until death itself comes, no calamity need be feared.
If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.
In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.
The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.
It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.
All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.
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.
The skilful employer of men will employ the wise man, the brave man, the covetous man, and the stupid man.
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.