昔之善战者，先为不可胜，以待敌之可胜。不可胜在己，可胜在敌。故善战者，能为不可胜，不能使敌之可胜。故曰：胜可知而不可为。不可胜者，守也；可胜者，攻也。守则不足，攻则有余。善守者，藏于九地之下；善攻者，动于九天之上，故能自保而全胜也。
Sun Tzu
The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.
Hence the saying: Victory can be foreseen but cannot be forced.
Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive.
Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.
The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven. Thus on the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves; on the other, a victory that is complete.
见胜不过众人之所知，非善之善者也；战胜而天下曰善，非善之善者也。故举秋毫不为多力，见日月不为明目，闻雷霆不为聪耳。古之所谓善战者，胜于易胜者也。
Sun Tzu
Victory that is apparent to all is not the pinnacle of skill. Triumph so great that it earns universal praise is not the mark of true excellence.
Just as lifting an autumn hair is not proof of great strength, seeing the sun and moon is not proof of keen sight, and hearing thunder is not proof of sharp hearing.
The skilled warriors of old only engaged in battles where victory was already assured, defeating those who were destined for defeat.
故善战者之胜也，无智名，无勇功。故其战胜不忒，不忒者，其所措必胜，胜已败者也。故善战者立于不败之地，而不失敌之败也。是故胜兵先胜而后求战，败兵先战而后求胜。
Sun Tzu
Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage.
He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.
Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.
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.
善用兵者，修道而保法，故能为胜败之政。
Sun Tzu
The consummate leader cultivates the way, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.
兵法：一曰度，二曰量，三曰数，四曰称，五曰胜。地生度，度生量，量生数，数生称，称生胜。 故胜兵若以镒称铢，败兵若以铢称镒。 胜者之战民也，若决积水于千仞之溪者，形也。
Sun Tzu
In the art of war, five fundamental factors must be mastered:
- Measurement (度) – Assessing the extent of the land to determine the size of the nation’s territory.
- Quantity (量) – Evaluating the territory’s size to determine the abundance of resources.
- Calculation (数) – Measuring the stockpiles of resources to determine the number of troops that can be mobilized and sustained.
- Comparison (称) – Weighing the strength of the armies to establish the balance of military power.
- Victory (胜) – Judging the relative strength of forces to determine the outcome of the war.
A victorious army stands against a defeated army as a great weight against a small measure, holding absolute advantage. A defeated army, in contrast, faces its foe as a small measure against a great weight, falling into inevitable ruin.
A powerful army on the battlefield is like a flood bursting through a broken dam, striking the enemy with unstoppable force. This is the overwhelming momentum of military strength.
The Art of Invest 