
Source: The Art of War, Chapter XI · The Nine Battlegrounds
Quoted in V. Ye. Savkin, "Basic Principles of Operational Art and Tactics," 1972.
Source: The Art of War, Chapter XI · The Nine Battlegrounds
“He who cuts off his nose takes poor revenge for a shame inflicted on him.”
Male ulciscitur dedecus sibi illatum, qui amputat nasum suum.
De Hierosolymitana peregrinatione acceleranda (1189), cited from Mary Beth Rose (ed.) Women in the Middle Ages and Renaissance (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1986) p. 29; translation from John Simpson The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993) p. 55.
A similar proverb, Qui son nez cope deshonore son vis, appears in the late 12th century chanson de geste Garin le Loheren, line 2877.
“One cannot think that blind bravery gives victory over the enemy.”
The Book of Military Quotations By Peter G. Tsouras - Page 55.
Go Rin No Sho (1645), The Wind Book
Context: Whenever you cross swords with an enemy you must not think of cutting him either strongly or weakly; just think of cutting and killing him. Be intent solely on killing the enemy. Do not try to cut strongly and, of course, do not think of cutting weakly. You should only be concerned with killing the enemy.
Go Rin No Sho (1645), The Water Book
“When thy enemy stretches out his hand to thee, cut it off if thou art able, otherwise kiss it.”
History of the Caliphs, p.275
Letter to George Washington (24 October 1776)