English translation
Sun Tzu said: In the methods of warfare, preserving the state is supreme; destroying the state is next. Preserving the army is supreme; destroying the army is next. Preserving a division is supreme; destroying a division is next. Preserving a regiment is supreme; destroying a regiment is next. Preserving a unit is supreme; destroying a unit is next. Therefore, to win a hundred victories in a hundred engagements is not the acme of skill; to subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.
Chinese source
孫子曰：凡用兵之法，全國為上，破國次之；全軍為上，破軍次之；全旅為上，破旅次之；全卒為上，破卒次之；全伍為上，破伍次之。是故百戰百勝，非善之善者也；不戰而屈人之兵，善之善者也。
Therefore the best strategy is to defeat the enemy's plans; next best is to disrupt their alliances; next best is to fight their armies; worst is to besiege fortified cities. Siege warfare should be undertaken only when unavoidable. To frame and fit siege-towers and battering engines, and prepare other implements, takes three months; to raise approaches and undermine the walls takes another three months. If a general cannot restrain his anger and the troops swarm like ants, killing a third of the soldiers yet failing to take the city, this is the disaster of siege warfare.
Chinese source
故上兵伐謀，其次伐交，其次伐兵，其下攻城。攻城之法，為不得已。修櫓轒轀，具器械，三月而後成；距闉，又三月而後已。將不勝其忿，而蟻附之，殺士三分之一，而城不拔者，此攻之災也。
Thus the skillful commander bends the enemy's forces without fighting, captures their cities without assaulting them, ruins their state without protracted campaigns. He strives to contend for the realm with his resources intact; therefore the troops are not exhausted and the gains remain whole—this is the method of attacking by stratagem.
Chinese source
故善用兵者，屈人之兵而非戰也，拔人之城而非攻也，毀人之國而非久也，必以全爭於天下，故兵不頓而利可全，此謀攻之法也。
Hence in the conduct of war: if you are ten times as many, surround the enemy; if five times, attack; if twice, divide them; if equal, be able to fight; if fewer, be able to hold the defensive; if inferior in every way, be able to avoid them. Thus the firmness of a small force can lead to its capture by a larger one.
Chinese source
故用兵之法，十則圍之，五則攻之，倍則分之，敵則能戰之，少則能守之，不若則能避之。故小敵之堅，大敵之擒也。
A commander is the state's principal support. If that support is complete, the state will be strong; if the support is flawed, the state will be weak.
Chinese source
夫將者，國之輔也。輔周則國必強，輔隙則國必弱。
Therefore there are three things by which a ruler may bring trouble upon his army: not recognizing when the army cannot advance yet ordering it to advance, and not recognizing when it cannot retreat yet ordering it to retreat—this ties the army; not understanding the matters of the three divisions yet meddling in their administration—this confuses the soldiers; not knowing the authority assigned within the three divisions yet interfering with their duties—this makes the soldiers distrustful. When the three armies are confused and distrustful, ruin for the state is near; this is called leading a disordered army to defeat.
Chinese source
故君之所以患於軍者三：不知軍之不可以進而謂之進，不知軍之不可以退而謂之退，是為縻軍；不知三軍之事，而同三軍之政，則軍士惑矣；不知三軍之權，而同三軍之任，則軍士疑矣。三軍既惑且疑，則諸侯之難至矣，是謂亂軍引勝。
There are five points by which victory may be known: knowing whether you can fight or cannot fight; mastering the use of many or few forces; having unity of purpose between high and low; preparing for the expected and awaiting the unexpected; and having a capable commander whom the ruler does not hamper. These five constitute the way to know victory.
Chinese source
故知勝有五：知可以戰與不可以戰者勝，識衆寡之用者勝，上下同欲者勝，以虞待不虞者勝，將能而君不御者勝。此五者，知勝之道也。
Hence it is said: Know the enemy and know yourself, and you will not be imperiled in a hundred engagements. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will be defeated in every battle.
Chinese source
故曰：知彼知己，百戰不殆；不知彼而知己，一勝一負；不知彼不知己，每戰必殆。