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This being so, the places that I shall hold are precisely those

that the enemy cannot attack."]

8. Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does

not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defence whose

opponent does not know what to attack.

[An aphorism which puts the whole art of war in a nutshell.]

9. O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to

be invisible, through you inaudible;

[Literally, "without form or sound," but it is said of course

with reference to the enemy.]

and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands.

10. You may advance and be absolutely irresistible, if you make

for the enemy's weak points; you may retire and be safe from

pursuit if your movements are more rapid than those of the enemy.

11. If we wish to fight, the enemy can be forced to an engagement

even though he be sheltered behind a high rampart and a deep

ditch. All we need do is attack some other place that he will be

obliged to relieve.