23. If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler’s bidding.

故戰道必勝主曰無戰必戰可也戰道不勝主曰必戰無戰可也

Sun Tzu

In deciding whether or not to engage in a conflict, one should consider the likelihood of victory. If the chances of victory are high, then it is advisable to fight, even if one’s ruler has forbidden it. However, if the chances of victory are low, then it is best not to engage in the conflict, even if one’s ruler has ordered it. The overall message of the quote is that the pursuit of victory should be the primary factor in deciding whether or not to engage in a conflict.

If pursuing a certain course of action is likely to lead to success, then it should be pursued, even if your leadership disagrees. However, if pursuing that course of action is unlikely to lead to success, then it should not be pursued, even if your leadership insists on it.

If a course of action is likely to lead to success, it should be pursued because it has a good chance of achieving the desired outcome. On the other hand, if a course of action is unlikely to lead to success, it should not be pursued because it has a low chance of achieving the desired outcome. This is true regardless of whether or not your leadership agrees with your assessment of the situation.

In general, it is important to carefully consider the potential outcomes of a course of action before deciding to pursue it. This means weighing the risks and benefits, as well as considering any potential obstacles or challenges that may arise. If a course of action is likely to lead to success, it can be worth pursuing even if your leadership disagrees, as long as you have thought through the potential consequences and believe that the benefits outweigh the risks.

However, if a course of action is unlikely to lead to success, it is generally not a good idea to pursue it, even if your leadership insists on it. This is because pursuing an action that is unlikely to succeed can waste time, resources, and energy, and may even result in negative consequences. In this case, it is often better to communicate your concerns to your leadership and try to find a different course of action that has a better chance of success.

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