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If not in the interests of the state, do not act. If you are not sure of success, do not use troops. If you are not in danger, do not fight a battle.* |
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A sovereign should not launch a war simply out of anger, nor should a general fight a war simply out of resentment. Take action if it is to your advantage; cancel the action if it is not. An angered man can be happy again, just as a resentful one can feel pleased again, but a state that has perished can never revive, nor can a dead man be brought back to life. |
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Therefore, with regard to the matter of war, the enlightened ruler is prudent, and the good general is full of caution. Thus, the state is kept secure and the army preserved. |
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Other translators express their interpretations of restraint which applies equally to external strategies and internal politics: |
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*Move only when it benefits you. In war you must win; in attacking, you must succeed. If it is not beneficial to the country, do not take action. If you cannot win, do not go to war. If you are in danger, do not fight.
Brian Bruya |
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*If it is not advantageous, do not move. If objectives cannot be attained, do not employ the army. Unless endangered, do not engage in warfare.
Roger Ames |
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