Instruments of ill omen - Lao Tzu for the Tao Te Ching (4th Century B.C)

Tao Te Ching:
As for weapons – they are instruments of ill omen.
And among things there are those that hate them.
Therefore, the one who has the Way, with them does not dwell.
When the gentleman is at home, he honors the left;
When at war, he honors the right.
Therefore, weapons are not the instrument of the gentleman –
Weapons arc instruments of ill omen.
When you have no choice but to use them, it's best to remain tranquil and calm.
You should never look upon them as things of beauty.
If you see them as beautiful things – this is to delight in the killing of men.
And when you delight in the killing of men, you'll not realize your goal in the land.
Therefore, in happy events we honor the left,
But in mourning we honor the right.
Therefore, the lieutenant general stands on the left;
And the supreme general stands on the right.
Which is to say, they arrange themselves as they would at a funeral.
When multitudes of people are killed, we stand before them in sorrow and grief.
When we're victorious in battle, we treat the occasion like a funeral ceremony.

The above maxim is a stunning piece of writing on warfare and conflict, written by Lao Tzu of the 4th Century B.C, complied into the Taoist text Tao Te Ching.