Surprise becomes effective when we suddenly face the enemy … - Carl von Clausewitz

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Surprise becomes effective when we suddenly face the enemy at one point with far more troops than he expected. This type of numerical superiority is quite distinct from numerical superiority in general: it is the most powerful medium in the art of war.

Carl von Clausewitz

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About Carl von Clausewitz

Carl von Clausewitz (1 June 1780 – 16 November 1831) was a Prussian general and influential military theorist. He is most famous for his military treatise Vom Kriege, translated into English as On War.

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Also Known As

Native Name: Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz

Alternative Names: Carl Philipp Gottlieb Clausewitz • von Clausewitz • Clausewitz

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Sun Tzu Ferdinand Foch Napoleon Thucydides Dwight D. Eisenhower

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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 renown.

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...in war, the advantages and disadvantages of a single action could only be determined by the final balance.

Surprise becomes effective when we suddenly face the enemy at one point with far more troops than he expected. This type of numerical superiority is … - Carl von Clausewitz

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