Chapter 3 · Attack by Stratagem

Sun Tzu said: To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting. The highest form of generalship is to balk the enemy's plans; the next best is to prevent the junction of the enemy's forces; the worst is to besiege walled cities. The skillful leader subdues the enemy's troops without any fighting. Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.