"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu

 

Know Yourself and Your Enemy:

"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."

 

Adaptability:

"Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing."

 

Strategic Planning:

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

 

Deception and Misdirection:

"All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear 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."

 

Flexibility:

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

 

Exploiting Weaknesses:

"Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."

 

The Importance of Timing:

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

 

Unity of Command:

"There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination, they produce more hues than can ever been seen."

 

Avoiding Conflict:

"The greatest victory is that which requires no battle."

 

The Art of War as a Moral Philosophy:

"The skilful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field."