| | 孫子兵法: |
孫子曰：凡用兵之法，全國為上，破國次之，全軍為上，破軍次之，全卒為上，破卒次之，是故百戰百勝，非善之善者也。不戰而屈人之兵，善之善者也。 |
| | Sun Zi said: The method of employing troops in general is to preserve the whole state as the best outcome, and to conquer it by force as the lesser option. Preserving an entire army is best, defeating it comes second; preserving a unit of soldiers is best, breaking the unit comes next. Therefore, winning a hundred battles and achieving a hundred victories is not the most skillful use of strategy. To subdue the enemy's army without fighting is the most excellent form of skill.
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| | 孫子兵法: |
故上兵伐謀，其次伐交，其次伐兵，下攻攻城，故善用兵者，屈人之兵而非戰也。拔人之城而非攻也。毁人之國而不久也。必以全争於天下，故兵不鈍而利可全也。 |
| | Therefore, the highest form of warfare is to attack through strategy. The next best option is to defeat the enemy through diplomacy. Next comes defeating them in battle. The lowest form is attacking and capturing a city. Therefore, those skilled in using troops subdue the enemy's forces without fighting. They capture the enemy's city not through direct assault. They destroy the enemy's state without prolonged warfare. One must strive for completeness in competition with all under heaven; thus, troops remain sharp and benefits are fully preserved.
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| | 孫子兵法: |
兵形象水，水行避高而就下，兵之形避實而擊虛，故水因地而制行，兵因敵而制勝，故兵無定勢，水無常形，能與敵變化而取勝者謂之神。 |
| | The formation of troops is like water; water flows, avoiding high ground and seeking low areas. In warfare, one avoids strength and strikes weakness. Therefore, just as the movement of water adapts to the terrain, military victory depends on adapting to the enemy's situation. Thus, there are no fixed formations in war, any more than water has a constant shape. One who can change with the enemy and achieve victory is called divine.
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| | 孫子兵法: |
孫子曰：凡用兵之法，君命有所不受，無恃其不來，恃吾有以能待之也。無恃其不攻，恃吾之不可攻也。 |
| | Sun Zi said: The method of employing troops generally means that a general may not always obey the sovereign's commands. Do not rely on the enemy not coming; rather, rely on your own preparedness to meet them. Do not rely on the enemy refraining from attack; rather, depend on making yourself unassailable.
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| | 孫子兵法: |
夫唯無慮而易於敵者，必禽於人，故卒未附親而罰之，即不服，不服即難用也。卒已附親而罰不行者，即不可用矣。故令之以文，齊之以武，是謂必取，令素行則民服，令素行者，與衆相得也。 |
| | Only those who are careless and thus vulnerable to the enemy will inevitably be captured by others. Therefore, if soldiers have not yet become loyal and are punished, they will not submit; and if they do not submit, they will be difficult to use effectively. If the troops have already become loyal but punishments are not enforced, then they cannot be used effectively either. Therefore, command them with benevolence and discipline them with martial law—this is called certainty of success. When orders are consistently carried out, the people will obey; consistent enforcement means harmonious relations between leaders and the people.
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| | 孫子兵法: |
戰道必勝，主曰無戰，必戰，戰道不勝，主曰必戰，無戰，故進不求名，退不避罪，唯民是保，而利全於主，國之寶也。視卒如嬰兒，故可與之赴深溪，視卒如愛子，故可與之俱死，厚而不能使，愛而不能全，亂而不能治，譬若驕子，不可用也。 |
| | When the conditions for battle are certain to lead to victory, if the sovereign says "do not fight," one must still fight. When the conditions do not favor victory and the sovereign insists on fighting, then one should refrain from battle. Therefore, advancing is not for seeking fame, retreating is not to avoid blame; it is solely about protecting the people and preserving benefits for the ruler—this is the treasure of a nation. Treat your soldiers as you would an infant, and they will follow you into the deepest ravines. Treat them as beloved children, and they will die with you. However, if one is overly indulgent yet cannot command them effectively, or too affectionate to enforce discipline , or unable to maintain order—this is like a spoiled child, who becomes unusable in battle.
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| | 孫子兵法: |
知吾卒之可以擊，而不知敵之不可擊，勝之半也。知敵之可擊，而不知吾卒之不可以擊，勝之半也。知敵之可擊，知吾卒之可以擊，而不知地形之不可以戰，勝之半也。故曰：知彼知己，勝乃不殆，知天知地，勝乃可全。 |
| | Knowing that your own troops are ready for battle, but not knowing that the enemy is unprepared—this ensures only half a victory. Knowing that the enemy can be attacked, yet not knowing that your own troops are unfit for battle—this also ensures only half a victory. Knowing the enemy can be attacked and knowing your troops are capable of battle, yet not understanding that the terrain is unsuitable for fighting—this still ensures only half a victory. Therefore, it is said: Knowing both your enemy and yourself ensures victory without danger; knowing Heaven and Earth guarantees complete success.
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| | 孫子兵法: |
明主慮之，良將修之，非利不赴，非得不用，非危不戰，主不可以怒而興軍，將不可以愠而致戰，合於利而用，不合於利而止，怒可復喜，愠可復悅，亡國不可復存，死者不可復生也。故曰：明王慎之，良將敬之，此安國之道也。 |
| | A wise ruler considers this, a capable general prepares for it; one does not act without benefit, does not employ forces without advantage, and does not fight unless in danger. A ruler must not raise an army out of anger, and a general must not engage in battle due to resentment. Proceed only when it is advantageous; halt when it is not. Anger can turn into joy, and resentment can return to happiness—but a lost state cannot be restored, and the dead cannot be brought back to life. Therefore, it is said: A wise ruler must be cautious, a capable general must be reverent—this is the way to ensure national security.
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| | 孫子兵法: |
興師十萬，出征千里，百姓之費，公家之奉，日千金，內外騷動，不得操事者，七十萬家，相守數年，以争一日之勝，而愛爵禄百金，不知敵之情者，不仁之至也。非民之將也。非主之佐也。非勝之主也。故明王聖主，賢君勝將，所以動而勝人，成功出於衆者，先知也。先知者，不可取於鬼神，不可象於事也。不可驗於度，，必取於人，知敵之情者也。 |
| | Mobilizing an army of one hundred thousand and marching a thousand li, the cost to the people and the expenses borne by the state amount to thousands of gold per day. Internally and externally, society is in turmoil, with seventy thousand families unable to engage in their usual occupations. To maintain a siege for several years in order to win a single day's victory, yet cherish titles, salaries, and hundreds of gold pieces while failing to understand the enemy—this is the height of cruelty. Such a person is not a leader of the people. They are not an assistant to the ruler. They are not a master of victory. Therefore, wise rulers and sage sovereigns, virtuous lords and victorious generals—whoever moves and defeats others, achieving success beyond the ordinary—do so because they possess prior knowledge. Prior knowledge cannot be obtained from ghosts or deities. It cannot be derived by analogy to past events. It cannot be measured by standards or calculations.}} It must come from people—those who know the enemy's condition.
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