There has never been a protracted war from which a country has

In the ancient scrolls of wisdom, the teachings of Sun Tzu stand as a beacon, shedding light on the very nature of conflict. Among his many profound reflections, one stands eternal: "There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited." These words are not simply the musings of a strategist, but the cries of a soul that understands the deep and unrelenting cost of war. Sun Tzu, the master of war and author of The Art of War, saw with clarity that war, though sometimes necessary, always comes at a price. The longer the struggle, the greater the toll, and the more it drains from the very life of the nation that engages in it.

In these words, Sun Tzu speaks not of the glory of victory, but of the inevitable destruction that comes with prolonged conflict. A country, when embroiled in war for an extended time, suffers not only the loss of its soldiers, but the destruction of its economy, its social fabric, and its future. The people, weary from the weight of constant battle, lose their strength, their spirit, and their hope. Even those who emerge victorious find that the cost of their triumph has hollowed out their nation. What, then, is the true price of war? Sun Tzu’s wisdom tells us that war is not merely fought with weapons but with the very soul of a people.

Let us look to the ancient conflict of the Peloponnesian War, fought between Athens and Sparta. For nearly three decades, these two great powers clashed in a war that ravaged Greece. Athens, once a shining beacon of culture and progress, was left in ruins. The prolonged fighting drained its resources, shattered its spirit, and ultimately led to its defeat. Even Sparta, victorious in the end, was left weakened, unable to secure the dominance it had once sought. In the wake of the war, the Greek world was forever altered—not for the better, but for the worse. Sun Tzu’s words find echo in this tragedy: no nation, whether victorious or defeated, emerges from a prolonged war unscathed.

Consider, too, the American Civil War, a conflict that tore apart the very fabric of the United States. For four long years, the North and South fought a brutal war that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of men. While the Union emerged victorious, the war left scars that lasted for generations. The South was devastated, its land in ruins, its economy shattered. Even in the North, the costs were immense, as families were torn apart and the nation itself struggled to rebuild. The Civil War, like all protracted wars, left a bitter legacy, a reminder that no nation can truly benefit from prolonged conflict.

In this, we find the lesson Sun Tzu imparted: war, if it must come, should be swift and decisive. The longer it drags on, the greater the destruction. A nation that enters into a war must remember that the aim is not glory, but the preservation of life and the protection of what is dear. It is not the number of victories that determines the strength of a nation, but the ability to protect its people and its future from the ravages of extended conflict. War, in all its forms, consumes everything in its path, leaving behind only the echoes of what once was.

So, what should we learn from Sun Tzu's wisdom? The true strength of a nation lies not in its ability to wage war, but in its capacity to avoid it. Let us seek peace above all else, for in peace, nations thrive. It is in the moments of diplomacy, of compromise, and of understanding that the true victories are won. The best leaders are those who can prevent war, not those who engage in it. Let us be a people who know that peace is the ultimate victory and that no war, no matter how just, is worth the endless suffering it brings.

In our own lives, let us apply this lesson to the small battles we face. Avoid conflict when possible, for the price of prolonged discord, whether in relationships or in our communities, is always higher than the cost of resolution. The wounds of anger, hatred, and resentment can tear apart even the strongest of bonds. Seek understanding, seek compromise, seek peace, for in this, we will find the true strength that Sun Tzu so wisely sought to instill in all who would listen. Let us build a world where war—whether in the heart of man or on the battlefield—becomes the last resort, not the first choice.