Look, he says: once you have exhausted the process of negotiation and compromise, once you have fixed on the destruction of an enemy, that destruction must be swift and it must be perfect. Before you even glance in his direction, you should have his name on a warrant, the ports blocked, his wife and friends bought, his heir under your protection, his money in your strong room and his dog running to your whistle. Before he wakes in the morning, you should have the axe in your hand. When
The passage emphasizes the importance of decisiveness and thorough preparation in dealing with an enemy. It suggests that once all avenues for negotiation have been exhausted, the focus shifts to executing a complete and swift destruction of the opponent. This highlights the gravity of the situation and the total commitment required to ensure victory.
The metaphor of having everything in place before taking action serves to illustrate the meticulous strategy necessary...
