Art of Conflict

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 ruinTo fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence
Supreme excellence consists in breaking
The enemy's resistance without having to fightIf you know the enemy and know yourself
Your victory will not stand in doubt
If you know heaven and you know earth
You may make your victoryIf you know the enemy and know yourself
You need not fear results of a hundred battles
If you know yourself but not the enemy
For every victory gained you will also suffer defeat
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself
You will succumb in every battleTreat your soldiers as your beloved children
And they will follow you into the deepest valleys
To defeat your enemy you must pretend inferiority
And encourage your enemy's arroganceMaking no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory
For it means conquering an enemy that is already defeatedThere is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfareSpeed is the essence of warThe art of war teaches us to rely not on
The likelihood of the enemy's not coming
But on our own readiness to receive our enemy
Not on the chance of our enemies not attacking
But rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailableThe general who advances without seeking fame
And retreats without fearing disgrace
Whose only thought is to protect his country
And do service for his sovereign is the jewel of his kingdomThe victorious strategist only seeks battle
After the victory has been won
Whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights
And afterwards looks for victorySpeed is the essence of warSpeed is the essence of warIt's only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war
Who can thoroughly understand how to profit from waging war