Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.

　　故兵贵胜，不贵久。

　　In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

　　是故百战百胜，非善之善也；不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。

　　Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

　　故善用兵者，屈人之兵而非战也，拔人之城而非攻也，毁人之国而非久也，

　　Therefore the skillful 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.

　　兵法：一曰度，二曰量，三曰数，四曰称，五曰胜。

　　In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory.

　　凡战者，以正合，以奇胜。

　　In all fighting, the direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory.

　　故兵无常势，水无常形。

　　Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.

　　三军可夺气，将军可夺心。

　　A whole army may be robbed of its spirit; a commander-in-chief may be robbed of his presence of mind.