For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

Sun-Tzu (fl. 6th C. AD) Chinese general and philosopher [a.k.a. Sun Wu]

The Art of War, ch. 3

Alt. trans.:

• "Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting"
• "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."