“Every battle is won before it’s ever fought.”

“Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.”

“Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory is won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.”

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

“Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.”

“One hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the most skillful, subduing the other's military without battle is the most skillful.”

“The wise warrior avoids the battle.”