< Page:Sun Tzu on The art of war.djvu
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  1. 故其戰勝不忒不忒者其所措必勝勝已敗者也
  2. 故善戰者立於不敗之地而不失敵之敗也
  3. 是故勝兵先勝而後求戰敗兵先戰而後求勝

13. 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.

14. Hence the skilful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.

15. 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.

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