1. Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old

first put themselves beyond the possibility

of defeat, and then waited for an

opportunity of defeating the enemy.

2. To secure ourselves against defeat lies

in our own hands, but the opportunity of

defeating the enemy is provided by the

enemy himself.

3. Thus the good fighter is able to secure

himself against defeat, but cannot make

certain of defeating the enemy.

4. Hence the saying: One may know how to

conquer without being able to do it.

5. Security against defeat implies

defensive tactics; ability to defeat the

enemy means taking the offensive.

6. Standing on the defensive indicates

insufficient strength; attacking, a

superabundance of strength.

7. The general who is skilled in defense

hides in the most secret recesses of the

earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes

forth from the topmost heights of heaven.

Thus on the one hand we have ability to

protect ourselves; on the other, a victory

that is complete.

8. To see victory only when it is within

the ken of the common herd is not the acme

of excellence.

9. Neither is it the acme of excellence if

you fight and conquer and the whole Empire

says, "Well done!"

10. To lift an autumn hair is no sign of

great strength; to see the sun and moon is

no sign of sharp sight; to hear the noise

of thunder is no sign of a quick ear.

11. What the ancients called a clever

fighter is one who not only wins, but

excels in winning with ease.

12. Hence his victories bring him neither

reputation for wisdom nor credit for

courage.

13. He wins his battles by making no

mistakes.

Making no mistakes is what establishes the

certainty of victory, for it means

conquering an enemy that is already

defeated.

14. Hence the skillful fighter puts himself

into a position which makes defeat

impossible, and does not miss the moment

for defeating the enemy.

15. 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.

16. The consummate leader cultivates the

moral law, and strictly adheres to method

and discipline; thus it is in his power to

control success.

17. In respect of military method, we have,

firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation

of quantity; thirdly, Calculation;

fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly,

Victory.

18. Measurement owes its existence to

Earth; Estimation of quantity to

Measurement; Calculation to Estimation of

quantity; Balancing of chances to

Calculation; and Victory to Balancing of

chances.

19. A victorious army opposed to a routed

one, is as a pound's weight placed in the

scale against a single grain.

20. The onrush of a conquering force is

like the bursting of pent-up waters into a

chasm a thousand fathoms deep.