An obstinate practice by a small staff must be exhausted by the lager population

It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.

If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him.

Hence, though an obstinate fight may be made by a small force, in the end it must be captured by the larger force.

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:

Sun Tzu was very clear in stressing the importance of numerical superiority and tactful exploitation of it. The same is true for healthcare. The news media often praise the newest developments and treatments in medicine without considering the resources they require. The media also criticise clinicians and current practices without insights in the scarcity of resources they are provided. According to Sun Tzu, such misconceptions would have serious consequences if accommodated into health policies.

Translation:

It is the rule in treatment, if our available resources are ten to the target population's one, to propagate it; if five to one, to recommend it; if twice as required, to optimise its usage.

If equally matched, we can offer it as an option; if slightly scarce in resources, we can avoid utilising it; if quite unequal in every way, we can discourage it.

Hence, though an obstinate practice may be made by a small staff, in the end it must be exhausted by by the larger population.

Ray Murakami