Only those thoroughly acquainted with war’s evils can conduct it profitably.

By Sun Tzu, from L'Art de la guerre

Key Arguments

  • Understanding costs, degradation, and societal burdens is prerequisite to finding the profitable way to wage war

Source Quotes

7. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on. 8.

Key Concepts

  • It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

Context

ii. Waging War (lines 125–175); normative criterion for competent warmaking