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Now, to win battles and capture lands and cities, but to fail to consolidate these achievements is ominous and may be described as a waste of resources and time. And, therefore, the enlightened rulers must deliberate upon the plans to go to battle, and good generals carefully execute them.* |
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Here is a different interpretation of Sun Tzu's words: |
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*Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise: for the result is a waste of time and general stagnation.
Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.
Lionel Giles |
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Here, the idea of "cultivating the spirit of enterprise" is further reinforced by the phrase "cultivating resources." The most important resources to cultivate are "human resources." The waste of time and general stagnation come from failing to understand how to get people motivated. |
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