30. Violence
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.