Tang Soo Do · Five codes
No retreat in battle
Definition
Do not abandon a just fight, or a person you are responsible for, because you are afraid or bored.
The lesson
This code is about desertion, not about stupidity. A warrior does not leave his post, his family, his student, or a true duty when the hour turns unpleasant. Quitting because the feeling left is retreat.
The next code governs this one. A fight that is reckless, unjust, or unsafe is not a battle you are required to decorate with courage. Stopping on purpose can be honor. Fleeing a duty you named is not. Know which one you are doing.
Name one post you are tempted to leave. Stay through it today. If the fight itself is wrong or unsafe, withdraw on purpose and say that you withdrew.
Never quitting a bad plan so you can feel brave, or leaving the moment a duty costs you comfort.