Effectiveness has never been seen associated with long admissions

Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays. There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

From "Sun Tzu on the Art of War - The Oldest Military Treatise in the World"

Translated from the Chinese By Lionel Giles, M.A. (1910)

Discussion:

Administrative targets such as "Shorter stays in the emergency department" are often criticised that they does not necessarily reflect the true efficiency of healthcare provided there and sometimes encourage superficial achievement by sacrificing quality, safety or satisfaction of patients. However, it is so true that there is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare even against diseases.

Translation:

Thus, though we have heard of initiatives for shortened stays in hospitals, effectiveness has never been seen associated with long admissions. There is no instance of a health system having benefited from prolonged hospital stays. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the adverse effects of hospitalisation that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

Ray Murakami