There are routes not to be followed, armies not to be attacked, citadels not to be besieged, territory not to be fought over.
Sun TzuHe who wishes to fight must first count the cost. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength.
Sun Tzu