Alexander Suvorov Quotes

Accustom yourself to tireless activity...

Die for the Virgin, for your mother the Empress, for the royal family. The Church will pray to God for the dead. The survivor has honor and glory.

To surprise the enemy is to defeat him.

The officers know that I myself am not ashamed to work at this. ...Suvorov was Major, and Adjutant, and everything down to Corporal; I myself looked into everything and could teach everybody.

One cannot think that blind bravery gives victory over the enemy.

When the enemy is driven back, we have failed, and when he is cut off, encircled and dispersed, we have succeeded.

One minute decides the outcome of a battle, one hour the success of a campaign, one day the fate of empires.

As long as the enemy fights he must be beaten relentlessly, but a defeated enemy and especially the civilian population must be treated generously.

It is very difficult to do one's duty. I was considered a barbarian because at the storming of the Praga 7,000 people were killed. Europe says that I am a monster. I myself have read this in the papers, but I would have liked to talk to people about this and ask them: is it not better to finish a war with the death of 7,000 people rather than to drag it on and kill 100,000.

Exercises cultivated self-reliance - the foundation of courage.

The more comfort the less courage there is.

To me death is better than the defensive.

Drill your soldiers well, and give them a pattern yourself.

Fire opens the gates of victory.

No battle can be won in the study, and theory without practice is dead.