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

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

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the
Mountain.

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

What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.

One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.

Be extremely subtle even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.

The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.

The wise warrior avoids the battle.

If your opponent is of choleric temper,  seek to irritate him.  Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

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

You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.

Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.

if you fight with all your might,  there is a chance of life; where as death is certain if you cling to your corner

the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.

Whether in an advantageous position or a disadvantageous one, the opposite state should be always present to your mind.

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

If we wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, we must not fix our minds on that alone, but allow for the possibility of the enemy also doing some harm to us, and let this enter as a factor into our calculations.

Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.