36th stratagem of 36: Run Away is the Best Strategy

走为上计 / zǒu wéi shàng jì /

36th stratagem of 36

Run away is the Best Strategy

Running away is the one best-known stratagems of all thirty six. In fact, historians identify the age of the treatise of the 36 Stratagems by the use of the expression 走为上计 / zǒu wéi shàng jì / in classical literature.

Indeed, running away contradicts the notion of the noble deed as praised in Western culture. And to be completely fair, Chinese people on average do praise courage to the same extent as Westerners do. But to a much greater extent Chinese value wit and common sense. There is no value in losing, only winning matters.

Disaster is never complete as long as one can preserve his will and forces. 

One chooses to fight only when the circumstances favour the confrontation. Only fools do the opposite, only reckless souls do not count their chances between winning and losing. And so, in many cases avoiding a fight is the best strategy one can choose.

Note: you have just read one of the episodes from a series of articles on the 36 Chinese stratagems of deception. For more details on the original treatise of the 36 Stratagems please refer to the very first episode of this series.   

Special thanks to the collaborator and proofreader Luke Sheehan