23. Throw your soldiers into positions whence there
is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight.
If they will face death, there is nothing they may
not achieve. Officers and men alike will put forth
their uttermost strength.
yeah it's important to note that we're talking about sun tzu's rules for soldiers, not himself. You better believe he had a way out of every room he walked into.
EDIT: Specifically, from XI: The Nine Situations