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