Conrad KC Lin's Blog

「昔之善戰者，先為不可勝，以侍敵之可勝。」 形篇第四

Those skilled in military operations are able to change their formations in such a way to ensure victory based on the action of opponents.  Chapter 4: "Formation"

Also:

The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.  Chapter 4: "Tactical Dispositon"  （http://www.religiousworlds.com/taoism/suntext.html）

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所謂先為不可勝，就是指先準備好自己，把自己放在不能被戰勝的高度，有了周全的準備，然後再去思考如何戰勝敵人，找尋敵人可以被戰勝的契機。

這句話，與孫子所說的「無待敵之不至，恃吾有以勝之」可以說是異曲同工。