Strengthening the Army
兵不强不可以应敌，国不富不可以养兵。
A weak army cannot fight; a poor nation cannot support troops.
富国必先强兵，强兵必先富民、明法、选贤、教戒。
兵不强不可以应敌，国不富不可以养兵。
要使国家富强必须先强大军队，要强大军队必须先使人民富裕、法律严明、选拔贤才、加强训练。军队不强大就无法应对敌人，国家不富裕就无法供养军队。
Enrich the nation by strengthening the army; strengthen the army by enriching people, clarifying laws, selecting talents, training troops. A weak army cannot fight; a poor nation cannot support troops.
富国强兵是立国之本：国富则兵强，兵强则国安
Wealth and military strength are foundational; they reinforce each other.
"富国强兵"是先秦法家与兵家的共识，但孙膑的独特贡献在于将"富民"置于"强兵"之前——经济发展是军事力量的前提。这与现代"大炮先于黄油"的争论形成有趣对话。
Compare to Eisenhower's "military-industrial complex" warning. Compare to Paul Kennedy's "imperial overstretch" theory.
商鞅变法以耕战为核心，富国强兵，使秦国从弱国变为统一六国的超级大国。
Shang Yang's reform centered on agriculture and warfare, enriching the state and strengthening the army, transforming Qin from a weak state into a superpower that unified China.
美国以强大的经济基础支撑全球军事霸权，同时以军事技术反哺经济发展。
The US used its powerful economic base to support global military hegemony, while military technology fed back into economic development.
以色列以高科技产业支撑军事研发，以全民皆兵制度保障国防安全。
Israel supports military R&D with its high-tech industry and secures national defense through universal conscription.