There is a saying in the military:
Do not be the first to attack.
Rather, focus on holding your ground.
It is better to retreat a foot than to advance an inch.
This is called:
Advancing without movement,
Seizing without grasping,
Confronting without attacking,
And warding off without weaponry.
The greatest error is to disrespect an enemy—
Character is the greatest casualty of conceit.
Thus, when two equal armies collide,
It is the one which laments the need to do so
That is the more likely to triumph.
You may order or download The Tao Te Ching here.
List of verses here