Carl von Clausewitz Quotes

War is such a dangerous business that mistakes that come from kindness are the very worst.

If we read history with an open mind, we cannot fail to conclude that, among all the military virtues, the energetic conduct of war has always contributed most to glory and success.

The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy.

...as man under pressure tends to give in to physical and intellectual weakness, only great strength of will can lead to the objective.

Anyone who falls into the habit of thinking and expecting the best of his subordinates at all times is, for that reason alone, unsuited to command an army

War is merely the continuation of politics by other means

... a strong character is one that will not be unbalanced by the most powerful emotions

...the side that feels the lesser urge for peace will naturally get the better bargain.

Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination.

Great things alone can make a great mind, and petty things will make a petty mind unless a man rejects them as completely alien.

history had no lessons or rules to offer the student, it could only broaden his understanding and strengthen his critical judgment.

Of all the passions that inspire a man in a battle, none, we have to admit, is so powerful and so constant as the longing for honor and reknown.

The aggressor is always peace-loving (as Bonaparte always claimed to be); he would prefer to take over our country unopposed.

[...] to introduce into the philosophy of war itself a principle of moderation would be an absurdity

Essentally combat is an expression of hostile feelings. But in the large-scale combat that we call war hostile feelings often have become merely hostile intentions. At any rate, there are usually no hostile feelings between individuals. Yet such emotions can never be completely absent from war. Modern wars are seldom fought without hatred between nations; this serves as a more or less substitute for the hatred between individuals. Even when there is no natural hatred and no animosity to start with, the fighting itself will stir up hostile feelings: violence committed on superior orders will stir up the desire for revenge and retaliation against the perpetrator rather than against the powers that ordered the action. It is only human (or animal, if you like), but it is a fact.