He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.

He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.

He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.