2 quotations linked to The Art of War — Waging War by or associated with Sun Tzu, with source notes, explanations and related topics.
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“In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.”
The objective should govern the campaign; activity that continues without advancing the actual goal wastes resources and creates new vulnerabilities.
Source note: The Art of War, Chapter II “Waging War,” Lionel Giles translation.
“There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.”
Long conflict consumes strength and resources, so duration itself becomes a strategic cost even before the outcome is decided.
Source note: The Art of War, Chapter II “Waging War,” Lionel Giles translation.