The strategists have a saying, I dare not play the host but play the guest, I dare not advance an inch but retreat a foot instead. This is known as marching forward when there is no road, Rolling up one's sleeves when there is no arm, Dragging one's adversary by force when there is no adversary, And taking up arms when there are no arms. There is no disaster greater than taking on an enemy too easily. So doing nearly cost me my treasure. Thus of two sides raising arms against each other, It is the one that is sorrow-stricken that wins.

1. Those who use weapons have a saying which goes: 2. "I don't presume to act like the host, and instead play the part of the guest; 3. I don't advance an inch, but rather retreat a foot." 4. This is called moving forward without moving forword — 5. Rolling up one's sleeves without baring one's arms — 6. Grasping firmly without holding a weapon — 7. And enticing to fight when there's no opponent. 8. Of disasters, none is greater than [thinking] you have no rival. 9. To think you have no rival is to come close to losing my treasures. 10. Therefore, when weapons are raised and [the opponents] are farily well matched, 11. Then it's the one who feels grief that will win.

The words of strategy are: I dare not be the host but rather the guest. I dare not advance an inch but rather retreat a foot. This is called marching without marching, rolling up sleeves without arms, grasping without weapons, confronting without enemies. No disaster is greater than underestimating the enemy. Underestimating the enemy nearly loses my treasures. Therefore when armies oppose each other, the grieving one will win.