In the whole range of human activities, war most closely resembles a game of cards.

Cards are war, in disguise of a sport.

Suppose two men at cards with nothing to wager save their lives. Who has not heard such a tale? A turn of the card. The whole universe for such a player has labored clanking to his moment which will tell if he is to die at that man’s hand or that man at his. What more certain validation of a man’s worth could there be? This enhancement of the game to its ultimate state admits no argument concerning the notion of fate. The selection of one man over another is a preference absolute and irrevocable and it is a dull man indeed who could reckon so profound a decision without agency or significance either one. In such games as have for their stake the annihilation of the defeated the decisions are quite clear. This man holding this particular arrangement of cards in his hand is thereby removed from existence. This is the nature of war, whose stake is at once the game and the authority and the justification. Seen so, war is the truest form of divination. It is the testing of one’s will and the will of another within that larger will which because it binds them is therefore forced to select. War is the ultimate game because war is at last a forcing of the unity of existence. War is god.

War is the statesman's game, the priest's delight, the lawyer's jest, the hired assassin's trade.

War is the statesman's game, the priest's delight, The lawyer's jest, the hired assassin's trade.

This is the nature of war, whose stake is at once the game and the authority and the justification. Seen so, war is the truest form of divination. It is the testing of one's will and the will of another within that larger will which because it binds them is therefore forced to select. War is the ultimate game because war is at last a forcing of the unity of existence.War is god.

War is a game that is played with a smile. If you can't smile, grin. If you can't grin, keep out of the way till you can.

War is a serious game in which a man risks his reputation, his troops, and his country. A sensible man will search himself to know whether or not he is fitted for the trade.

Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.

War itself is not a mere science but a more fickle sort of thing, often subject to fate or chance, being an entirely human enterprise...

Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you is determinism; the way you play it is free will.

War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.

Society is like this card game here, cousin. We got dealt our hand before we were even born, and as we grow we have to play as best as we can.

Life is like a game of cards.
The hand you are dealt is determinism;
The way you play it is free will.