“Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”

“The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Ch'ang mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both.”

“Attack is the secret of defense; defense is the planning of an attack.”

“You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”

“Attack by Stratagem”

“Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.”

“Supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy.”