What was the use of debating such a proposition, when superior force can wipe out the best arguments?

因为碰到蛮不讲理的时候, 再来讨论这类题目还有什么意义呢？

Thousands were massacred as China lost miserably against superior forces.

数千人被屠杀，因为中国惨败于优势力量。

The British were in fact battered and worn down by a guerrilla war and outdone on two important occasions by superior forces—at Saratoga and Yorktown.

事实上，英国人在游击战中被打得筋疲力尽，在萨拉托加和约克镇的两个重要场合都被优势部队打败了。

And, notwithstanding her uncle's presence, she begged the old man to accept. The struggle was becoming impossible, he was fighting against a superior force; it would be madness to refuse the fortune offered him. But he still replied no.

而且，尽管她叔叔在场，她还是恳求老人接受。这场斗争变得不可能了，他正在与一支优势力量作战；拒绝给予他的财富将是疯狂的。但他仍然回答没有。