Truths from The Art of War

• "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles."

• "The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself."

• "The victories of a clever fighter bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage." (because no one knows of the secret battles he has won.)

• "To make no mistakes means conquering an enemy that is already defeated."

• "In war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after victory has been won."

• "The clever combatent uses each man according to his abilities. He does not demand perfection from the untalented."

• "By discovering the enemy's dispostions and remaining invisible ourselves, we can keep our forces concentrated."

• "A comander should stand for the virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage, and strictness." (sounds like me, right.)

• "Hold out bait to entice the enemy, feign disorder and crush him. If he is superior in strength, evade him. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant."

• "When your weapons are dulled and your strength exhausted, other chieftans will spring up to take advantage."

• "He will win who prepared himself, then waits to take the enemy unprepared."

• "Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistence without fighting."