The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities... It is best to win without fighting.

是故百戰百勝,非善之善者也;不戰而屈人之兵,善之善者也。

More information about this quote

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Original Citation

Sun Tzu. 孫子兵法 [The Art of War]. c. 475 BC, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Sun Tzu. The Art of War: The Essential Translation of the Classic Book of Life, translated by John Minford. Penguin Classics, 2009, ch. 3.