Jiàngshuài wúnéng, lèisǐ sān-jūn.

將帥無能, 累死三軍。

Lit [If a] general is incompetent, [he may] wear out three armed forces.

Fig An incompetent leader can cause great harm to his subordinates.

Note [See also bīng xióng above; note: technically sān-jūn referred to combined forces of infantry, charioteers, and cavalry, and now refers to the three branches of the armed services: army, navy, and air force.]

Topics COMPETENCE COMPETENCE LEADERSHIP MILITARY sān-jūn SUBORDINATES