Since dugpas wished to get you out of here, where you were…
““Since dugpas wished to get you out of here, where you were safe, how else should they expel you than by causing you to expel yourselves by violence? When fools make war they expend their resources squandering money and life and food until the victor loses with the vanquished, and another, who is wiser, overwhelms them both. No dugpa would do such foolishness. He sacrifices little dugpas, even as the governments send soldiers to be slain, because there are always plenty who will fill the lower ranks. But one little sleepy, stupid, belly-loving dugpa is as useful to him as an army that a government flatters and sends to its death; because he wages war by causing his enemy to make mistakes, and he wins not by what he himself does, but through the self-destroying acts of whomsoever he would conquer.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
War is used as a tool to make enemies self‑destruct, sacrificing many for strategic gain
In simple terms: War manipulates opponents into self‑destruction
Key Takeaway
Avoid wars that exploit others for profit
Themes
war
strategy
manipulation
Mood
cautious
serious
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- political negotiations
- military planning
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Game theory
ethical dilemmas
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever justified to use enemy self‑destruction?
- What alternatives exist to violent conflict?
A Different Perspective
Such tactics can cause massive collateral damage