Exhaustion

Have recently completed the historical text: The Ghosts of Cannae: Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic by Robert L. O'Connell.  As I usually do, I look for some fundamental principle.  It applies in this case, but as always, I generalize.

Exhaustion must be a strategic tool of warfare.  One could even argue it is a tactical method, though I know of few examples.  One could argue this is the point of a siege.   Exhaustion at Cannae meant that tens of thousands of Roman soldiers could not continue the fight and died on the very hot day in summer by lack of water, leadership, and tactics.  Exhaustion was an important tool of Hannibal on that dreadful day 23 centuries ago. 

Exhaustion in the modern sense is more mental, perhaps political, certainly for the aged.  It implies an opponent that simply tires of the battle, having given so much for so little.  Exhaustion applies to corporate conflicts, to governments, to personal conflicts, to marital relationships.  It implies a loss of will to continue.  This has been used to great effect of the stronger and powerful against the weaker yet powerful.  It implies that the one has more perseverance than the other. So many battles are won by simply hanging in there.

Once you reduce the will through exhaustion, you have the battle half won.   Exhaustion implies a concession to surrender in its many forms.  Moreover, exhaustion of an opponent implies total victory is at hand.

Hang on, my friend, no matter what is your battle.