“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

“When strong, avoid them. If of high morale, depress them. Seem humble to fill them with conceit. If at ease, exhaust them. If united, separate them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.”

“When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is COLLAPSE.”

“When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is INSUBORDINATION.”

“Be stern in the council-chamber, [Show no weakness, and insist on your plans being ratified by the sovereign.] so that you may control the situation.”

“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.”