Laudable officers and meritorious soldiers

Are regarded by the whole world as good,

But their goodness however is not sufficient

To keep their persons alive. I do not know

Whether the goodness ascribed to them

Is really good or really not good. Hence,

A good strategist prefers to deal with

Made less miscalculations to display then

The forced heroism of facing off

On the battlefield for many people die.

If indeed it is to be considered good,

It is not sufficient to preserve them alive;

But if it is deemed not good, it is sufficient

To preserve other men, their rivals, living.

For this reason, when the faithful advisers

Are not listened to, they should sit still,

Letting their superior take his course

And not strive with him. Otherwise,

When such a wiser strives with his supervisor,

He thus brings on himself the mutilation

Of his person, in direct or indirect way.

On the other hand, if he is not so striven,

He hardly acquires his fame of the truth pursuer.

Is such goodness really good or is it not?