Chapter 2 · Waging War

Sun Tzu said: When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor dampened. There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. The skillful soldier does not raise a second levy; bring war material from home, but forage on the enemy. Hence a wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. In war, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.