In the Terrain chapter of the Art of War, Sunzi writes: “Regard the soldiers as infants, and they will go with the general into the deepest valleys. Regard them as beloved sons, and they will die with him.” (视卒如婴儿，故可以与之赴深溪。视卒如爱子，故可与之俱死。)
The next lines set a limit. “Kind but unable to use them, loving but unable to command them, disorderly and unable to be controlled, they are like spoiled children. They are of no use.”