All warfare is based on deception. Rapidity is the essence of war.

What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is FOREKNOWLEDGE. Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdo m nor credit for courage. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no m istakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated. The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy. To secure ourselves a gainst and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy. Thus it is that in wardefeated. tdefeated. he in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting . What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisd om nor credit for courage. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering a n enemy that is already defeated. The good and then has been ooks for fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, waited for anvictorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards l victory.

That general is skillful in attack w in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, bu t excels in winning with ease. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Ma king no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of aax