The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand. You have to believe in yourself. The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources. He controls his soldiers by his authority, knits them together by good faith, and be rewards makes them serviceable. The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources. He controls his soldiers by his authority, knits them together by good faith, and be rewards makes them serviceable. The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable. The art of giving orders is not to try to rectify the minor blunders and not to be swayed by petty doubts. So there are five ways of knowing who will win. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight are victorious. Those who discern when to use many or few troops are victorious. Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious. So the important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence. So it is said that victory can be made. | 
