But courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility. - Erwin Rommel

Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning.

When a commander has won a decisive victory - and Wavell's victory over the Italians was devastating - it is generally wrong for him to be satisfied with too narrow a strategic aim. For that is the time to exploit success. It is during the pursuit, when the beaten enemy is still dispirited and disorganised, that most prisoners are made and most booty captured. Troops who on one day are flying in a wild panic to the rear, may, unless they are continually harried by the pursuer, very soon stand in battle again, freshly organised as fully effective fighting men.

Thus the British lost the very able and adaptable commander <nowiki/>David Stirling of the desert group <nowiki/>SAS which had caused us more damage than any other British unit of equal strength.