The overarching objective in war is achieving victory swiftly, not conducting lengthy campaigns.

By Sun Tzu, from L'Art de la guerre

Key Arguments

  • He explicitly instructs commanders to seek victory rather than duration, consistent with his arguments about the costs and dangers of protraction

Source Quotes

19. In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns. 20.

Key Concepts

  • let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.

Context

ii. Waging War (lines 125–175); strategic aim derived from anti-protraction reasoning