Still, ruthless commitment can curdle into overreach. Xiang Yu, triumphant at Julu, later fell to Liu Bang after strategic miscalculations and attrition leading to Gaixia (202 BCE), a caution recorded by Sima Qian. Behavioral studies on escalation of commitment warn how sunk costs can trap leaders in failing courses (see Barry Staw, 1976). The couplet therefore invites a balanced reading: embrace Goujian’s disciplined patience to build capacity, and deploy Xiang Yu’s no-return resolve only when timing, supply, and morale align. Used together and with prudence, endurance and commitment become not just slogans but durable statecraft. [...]
