sunzi is the most popular and respected writer on strategy of all time. in more than two millenia only musashi and clausewitz have come close to achieving a similar level of name recognition, and they are not cited nearly as often.

i posted the following quotes before, along with criticism of a pair of speeches. this time the context is the troop surge, and i'll let the quotes stand alone:

no country has ever benefited from a protracted war.

those blind to the dangers inherent in using force are equally unable to see the advantageous ways to do so.

those adept in waging war need no second summoning of reserves nor more than one provisioning.
—sunzi, chapter 2

the worst policy is to attack cities.
—sunzi, chapter 3

a victorious army wins before seeking battle; an army that fights in the hope of winning is destined to defeat.
—sunzi, chapter 4

those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him.
—sunzi, chapter 6