Our knowledge of circumstances has increased, but our uncertainty, instead of having diminished, has only increased. The reason of this is, that we d… - Carl von Clausewitz

Although other feelings may be more general in their influence, and many of them — such as love of country, fanaticism, revenge, enthusiasm of every kind — may seem to stand higher, the thirst for honour and renown still remains indispensable. Those other feelings may rouse the great masses in general, and excite them more powerfully, but they do not give the Leader a desire to will more than others, which is an essential requisite in his position if he is to make himself distinguished in it. They do not, like a thirst for honour, make the military act specially the property of the Leader, which he strives to turn to the best account; where he ploughs with toil, sows with care, that he may reap plentifully. It is through these aspirations we have been speaking of in Commanders, from the highest to the lowest, this sort of energy, this spirit of emulation, these incentives, that the action of armies is chiefly animated and made successful. And now as to that which specially concerns the head of all, we ask, Has there ever been a great Commander destitute of the love of honour, or is such a character even conceivable?

To introduce into the philosophy of war itself a principle of moderation would be an absurdity.

Dans les deux cas, l’empereur Napoléon attaqua avec son aile droite en cherchant à résister avec l’aile gauche. L'archiduc Charlesdfit exactement la même chose. Mais le premier le fit avec toute sa résolution et toute son énergie, tandis que le second était indécis et s’arrêtait chaque fois à mi-course.