“When you catch yourself in a situation where you gamled and now you're in a big mess, you have only two rational solutions: either end the conflict as quickly as you can with a strong violent blow aimed to win, accepting the costs and knowing they are better than a slow and painful death or cut your losses and quit without delay. Never let pride or concern for your reputation pull you further into the morass; both will suffer far greater blows by your persistence. Short term defeat is better than long term disaster.”