Claude Louis Hector de Villars Quotes

My principal attention was always directed to the study of the younger generals. Such a one I found, by the boldness of his character, fit to lead a column of attack; another, from a disposition naturally cautious, but without being deficient in courage, more perfectly to be relied on for the defence of a country.

God protect me from my friends, I can protect myself from my enemies. [Variation: Defend me from my friends; I can take care of my enemies myself].

Villars to Louis XIV, quoted by Voltaire ("Sire, je vais combattre les ennemis de votre majesté, et je vous laisse au milieu des miens"),

I was unable before starting to formulate a plan of campaign because I did not know whether I should find an army there ... In fact I found the troops in a deplorable condition, without clothes, without arms, and without bread.

I am going to fight your enemies, I leave you in the midst of my own.

When we are determined upon war, we should carry it on vigorously and without trifling.

When the first shot is fired, no one can calculate what will be the issue of the war. It is, therefore, of vast importance to reflect maturely before we begin it.

Fortify your towns, and above all the Schellenberg, that fort above Donauworth, the importance of which the great Gustavus taught us.

In war everything depends upon being able to deceive the enemy; and having once gained this point, in never allowing him time to recover himself.

No governor of a place should he permitted to excuse himself for surrendering, on the ground of wishing to preserve the king's troops. Every garrison that displays courage will escape being prisoners of war. For there is no general who, however well assured of carrying a place by assault, will not prefer granting terms of capitulation rather than risk the loss of a thousand men in forcing determined troops to surrender.

If God lets us have the grace of losing such a battle again, Your Majesty can count on all of his enemies being destroyed.

What! Is it expected that I, a Marshal of France, should be the first to escalade, when I order you to attack?

Quoted in D'après Th. H. Barrau, Livre de morale pratique, Paris, Hachette et Cie, 1852

[Your nation] seems immovable, never doing glorious things but by halves, and never disgracing itself.

Where there are no peasants there are no supplies.