Claude Louis Hector de Villars Quotes

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

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

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

The most shameful, humiliating and disastrous of routs.

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

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.

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.

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

A general has to expose his life as much as he exposes the lives of others.

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].

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.

Also quoted by Voltaire ("Voulez-vous que je vous dise où sont les vrais ennemis du Prince Eugene? Ils sont à Vienne, et les miens à Versailles.")

Do you want to know where Prince Eugene’s real enemies are? They are in Vienna, while mine are in Versailles.

I am going to drive your enemies so far that they shall not again see the banks of the Scheldt; and by a battle on my arrival, to regain all that has been taken from your majesty.

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