powerful men are well advised not to use violence,

for violence has a habit of returning;

thorns and weeds grow wherever an army goes,

and lean years follow a great war.

a general is well advised

to achieve nothing more than his orders:

not to take advantage of his victory.

nor to glory, boast or pride himself;

to do what is dictated by necessity,

but not by choice.

for even the strongest force will weaken with time,

and then its violence will return, and kill it.