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[The piquancy of the paradox evaporates in translation.

Concealment is perhaps not so much actual invisibility (see supra

§ 9) as "showing no sign" of what you mean to do, of the plans

that are formed in your brain.]

conceal your dispositions, and you will be safe from the prying

of the subtlest spies, from the machinations of the wisest

brains.

[Tu Mu explains: "Though the enemy may have clever and capable

officers, they will not be able to lay any plans against us."]

26. How victory may be produced for them out of the enemy's own

tactics-that is what the multitude cannot comprehend.

27. All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none

can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.

[I.e., everybody can see superficially how a battle is won; what

they cannot see is the long series of plans and combinations

which has preceded the battle.]