Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical. No ruler should put troops into the field merely to gratify his own spleen; no general should fight a battle simply out of pique. If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life. Hence the enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution. This is the way to keep a country at peace and an army intact.
Sun TzuRelated topics
advantage anger army battle caution change content country dead field fight forward full general good kingdom move nor once peace position see should something stay use vexation way troopsRelated quotes
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Gore Vidal
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Ulysses S. Grant
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Noah Webster
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Richard Strauss
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Kofi Annan