Art of War Chapter – 9.4

An army does not gain advantage from sheer numbers. Avoid reckless advance; merely concentrate your strength, assess the enemy, and defeat them.
Those who lack forethought and underestimate the foe will surely be captured.

Note

This passage stresses army quality beats quantity. Troops should avoid blind charges, focus unified power and analyze foes thoroughly to win. Generals without careful planning who belittle enemies will inevitably be captured.

Sun Tzu (Sun Wu)

A great military strategist and thinker in ancient China, who lived in the late Spring and Autumn Period. He authored The Art of War, the world’s earliest and most influential military classic. His strategic thoughts have been widely applied in military, politics and management worldwide.

Quality over quantity

Troop quality and strategy matter more than sheer size.

Reckless advance

A major taboo in warfare.

Underestimate the enemy

A fatal mistake caused by lack of careful thinking.

兵非貴益多，惟無武進，足以併力料敵取人而已。夫惟無慮而易敵者，必擒于人。