The excerpt emphasizes the ruthless nature of soldiers, contrasting their actions with those of civilians. It suggests that the realities of warfare are devoid of notions like fairness; instead, soldiers must employ tactics that ensure victory by any means necessary, such as ambushes and deception. This perspective highlights a pragmatic understanding of conflict where moral considerations are secondary to survival and success.

The speaker criticizes an enemy for underestimating the brutality of war by naively clinging to a sense of honor. It implies that the enemy's attitude is a liability, as it ignores the strategic mindset required in combat situations. Ultimately, the passage reflects a harsh truth about the moral complexities of warfare, where the rules of engagement differ vastly from those in civilian life.