To understand Sun Tzu is to understand Trump. If you understand Sun Tzu and Trump, it's much easier to grasp (and trust) The Plan. The Plan IS the modern application of the Art of War.

"Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt."

"Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move."

"If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near."

"Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate."

"Balk the enemy's power; force him to reveal himself."

"The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim."

"Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance."

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable."

"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."

"To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."

"If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles."

"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."

"All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved."

"Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and you know Earth, you may make your victory complete."

"The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand."

"The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected."

"Quickness is the essence of the war."

"The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy."

"He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious."

"If your opponent is of choleric temper, irritate him."

"It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus doubled agents are recruited and used."