According to true military art, one should never push one's enemy to the point of despair, because such a state multiplies his strength and increases his courage which had already been crushed and failing, and because there is no better remedy for the health of beaten and overwhelmed men than the absence of all hope.
Always open all gates and roads to your enemies, and rather make for them a bridge of silver, to get rid of them. [Fr., Ouvrez toujours a vos ennemis toutes les portes et chemin, et plutot leur faites un pont d'argent, afin de les renvoyer.]
Such is the nature and make-up of the French that they are only good at the start. Then they are worse than devils, but, given time, they're less than women.
I won't undertake war until I have tried all the arts and means of peace.
War begun without good provision of money beforehand for going through with it is but as a breathing of strength and blast that will quickly pass away. Coin is the sinews of war.
A war undertaken without sufficient monies has but a wisp of force. Coins are the very sinews of battles.
