69

"The strategists have a saying, I dare not play the host but play the guest, I dare not advance an inch but retreat a foot instead. This is known as marching forward when there is no road, Rolling up one's sleeves when there is no arm, Dragging one's adversary by force when there is no adversary, And taking up arms when there are no arms. There is no disaster greater than taking on an enemy too easily. So doing nearly cost me my treasure. Thus of two sides raising arms against each other, It is the one that is sorrow-stricken that wins."