"Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain."

"故其疾如風，其徐如林，侵掠如火，不動如山，難知如陰，動如雷霆。"

"故用兵之法，無恃其不來，恃吾有以待之；無恃其不攻，恃吾有所不可攻也。"

"數賞者，窘也；數罰者，困也；"

"In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance relying on sheer military power."

"令素行以敎其民，則民服。令不素行以敎其民，則民不服。令素行者，與民相得也。"

"將弱不嚴，敎道不明，將之過也。"

"故戰道必勝，主曰無戰，必戰可也；戰道不勝，主曰必戰，無戰可也；"

"進不邀功，退不避罪，唯人是保，而利合於主，國之寶也。"

"視卒如愛子，故可與之俱死。"

"吾士無余財，非惡貨也。無余命，非惡壽也。"

"兵之情主速，乘敵所不及，由不虞之途，攻其所不備也。"

"施無法之賞，懸無政之令。犯三軍之眾，若使一人。"

"非利不動，非得不用，非危不戰。主不可以怒而興師，將不可以慍而致戰；合于利而動，不合于利而止。怒可以復喜，慍可以復悅，亡國不可以復存，死者不可以復生。故明君慎之，良將警之，此安國全軍之道也。"

"敵間之來間我者，因而利之，導而捨之，故反間可得而用也；"

"故明君賢將，所以動而勝人，成功出於衆者，先知也。"

"故三軍之事，莫親於間，賞莫厚於間，事莫密於間"

"此兵之要，三軍之所恃而動也。"

"Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across."

"Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate."

"Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price."

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."

"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat."

"The true objective of war is peace."

"Opportunities multiply as they are seized."

"In peace, prepare for war. In war, prepare for peace."

"Fear is the true enemy, the only enemy."

"吳王曰：「將軍罷休就舍，寡人不願下觀。」孫子曰：「王徒好其言，不能用其實。」於是闔廬知孫子能用兵，卒以為將。西破彊楚，入郢，北威齊晉，顯名諸侯，孫子與有力焉。"