"Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, military strategist, and philosopher who lived in the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is the author of The Art of War.

675. Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.

676. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.

677. 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.

678. Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without losing.

679. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.

680. There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.

681. Quickness is the essence of the war.

521. The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.

522. A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.

523. All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

524. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

525. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

521. The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.

522. A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective.

523. All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

524. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

525. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

"178. The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

"179. Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

"179. The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

"180. 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.

"181. The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.

"182. He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.