30. Ruler faithful to Tao will not send the army to a foreign country. This would incur calamity onto him, first of all.*
The land where an army passed becomes desolated. After war, lean years come.
A wise commander is never bellicose. A wise warrior never gets angry. He who can defeat the enemy does not attack. He who achieved victory stops and does not do violence to the defeated enemies. The victorious does not praise himself. He wins, but does not feel proud. He does not like wage wars. He wins because he is forced to fight. Though he wins, he is not bellicose.
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