The wise general does not fight every battle. He fights only those he can win. In war, there are five dangerous faults: recklessness, which leads to destruction; cowardice, which leads to capture; a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; a delicacy of honor, which is sensitive to shame; and over-solicitude for soldiers, which leads to worry. To this I would add a sixth fault in civilian life: attachment to sunk costs. The resources already spent cannot be recovered. They should not factor into your decision about what to do next. Here is how to know when to give up: When you have tried multiple strategies and all have failed, it is time to consider whether the objective itself is flawed. When pursuing the goal is destroying other things you value — your health, your relationships, your integrity — the cost has become too high. When you are fighting because you fear the shame of retreat rather than because you believe in victory, your judgment is compromised. The skilled warrior wins easy victories — victories over opponents already defeated by their own errors. If every step requires extraordinary effort, if the terrain itself fights against you, consider that perhaps you are attacking a fortified position when you should be seeking open ground. To give up one battle in order to win the war is wisdom, not weakness.
