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What he does say is something much more guarded, namely that,

while speed may sometimes be injudicious, tardiness can never be

anything but foolish-if only because it means impoverishment to

the nation. In considering the point raised here by Sun Tzŭ, the

classic example of Fabius Cunctator will inevitably occur to the

mind. That general deliberately measured the endurance of Rome

against that of Hannibals's isolated army, because it seemed to

him that the latter was more likely to suffer from a long

campaign in a strange country. But it is quite a moot question

whether his tactics would have proved successful in the long run.

Their reversal it is true, led to Cannae; but this only

establishes a negative presumption in their favour.]

6. There is no instance of a country having benefited from

prolonged warfare.

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.