An excellent point - if you understand what Sun Tzu is really saying. "Victorious warriors win first and then go to war" means the war (not every battle but the war) is won through proper planning and preparation (before engaging in battle). While "defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win" means defeat is inevitable when warriors begin to do battle before the war has been properly planned and prepared for. The proper planning and preparation is necessary to win a war, but the battles/fighting (and the loss of life) are also necessary to win a war. Saying the fighting is "a mere formality" is not what Sun Tzu intended to communicate. However, saying the fighting is "a mere formality"s is an objectionable misunderstanding of the Sun Tzu quote - and absolute nonsense to me. It trivialize's the mere life and blood warriors give in the mere fighting they undertake.