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Secret operations are essential in war upon them the army relies to make its every move.
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There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited.
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All war is based on deception.
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Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy.
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Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.
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In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy’s country whole and intact to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
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Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
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The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
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There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.
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All war is deception.
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In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy’s country whole and intact to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
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In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy’s country whole and intact to shatter and destroy it is not so good.
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The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.
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If our soldiers are not overburdened with money, it is not because they have a distaste for riches if their lives are not unduly long, it is not because they are disinclined to longevity.
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If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have gone only halfway towards victory.
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The skilful employer of men will employ the wise man, the brave man, the covetous man, and the stupid man.
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Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.
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All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.
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He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.
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It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.