Ma Chao - Comments On Ma Chao

Comments On Ma Chao

• "Ma Chao's arrogance and overestimation of his ability caused the extermination of his entire clan. What a great pity! If he could give up his pursuit for fame and glory and refrain from competing with others, wouldn't he have saved himself from disaster?" (馬超阻戎負勇，以覆其族，惜哉！能因窮致泰，不猶愈乎！) – Chen Shou

• "If the young horse doesn't die, I wouldn't be able to have a burial site!" (馬兒不死，吾無葬地也。) – Cao Cao

• "Mengqi is proficient in both civil and military affairs. He is fierce and mighty, and a hero of his time. He is comparable to Qing and Peng. He can compete with Yide, but is not as good as the peerless beard. " (孟起兼資文武，雄烈過人，一世之傑，黥、彭之徒，當與益德並驅爭先，猶未及髯之絕倫逸群也。) – Zhuge Liang

• "The tens of generals in Guanzhong may not be united. Among them, only Han Sui and Ma Chao are the most powerful ones." (關中將帥以十數，莫能相一，唯韓遂、馬超最彊。) – Xun Yu

• "(Ma) Chao possesses courage but not humanity; he knows no allegiance. He cannot be trusted in a relationship that calls for an interdependency." (超勇而不仁，見得不思義，不可以為脣齒。) – Wang Shang

• "(Ma) Chao has the courage of Xin and Bu, and he has the support of the Qiang and Rong peoples. If we retreat now and don't station defenses here, we forfeit all the prefectures in Longxi." (超有信、布之勇，甚得羌、戎心。若大軍還，不嚴為其備，隴上諸郡非國家之有也。) – Yang Fu

• "(Ma) Chao is strong but iniquitous; he is morally weak and susceptible to temptation and trickery." (超强而无义，多衅易图耳。) – Yang Fu

• "An unfilial son who would betray his own father, and a cruel subordinate who tried to murder his lord." (背父之逆子，杀君之桀贼) – Jiang Xu's mother

• "If somebody can't even love his own family, how will he love others?" (有人若此不愛其親，焉能愛人？) – Zhang Lu's follower

• "(Ma Chao) rose up, formed alliances, started an uprising in the Three Qins, conquered the river and Tong Pass. (He) rebelled against the imperial court, regardless of whether his followers agreed or disagreed with him. (In doing so, he) provided an opportunity for the enemy to sow discord (between him and his men), resulting in the destruction of his family and forces. (He) defied morals and ethics, and ended up having to rely on Dragons and Phoenixes. " (驃騎奮起，連橫合從，首事三秦，保據河、潼。宗計於朝，或異或同，敵以乘釁，家破軍亡。乖道反德，託鳳攀龍。) – Yang Xi

• "Bad diplomatic relations between Zhou and Zheng; Emperor Gaozu of Han requesting for a bowl of broth; Kui Xiao giving away his son; Ma Chao betraying his father; (these are) examples of extreme cruelty." (是以周、鄭交惡，漢高請羹，隗囂捐子，馬超背父，其為酷忍如此之極也。) – Sun Sheng

• "A veritable tiger of a general." – Liu Bei