but the disadvantages of this position must naturally not be of a transitory nature, at least in appearance, otherwise the enemy, instead of yielding… - Carl von Clausewitz

The greatest enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan

Je kleiner das Opfer ist, welches wir von unserem Gegner fordern, um so geringer dürfen wir erwarten, daß seine Anstrengungen sein warden, es uns zu versagen. Je geringer aber diese sind, um so kleiner dürfen auch die unsrigen bleiben.

steam boiler, delivering so and so many pounds of steam to its engines as long as the envelope can contain the pressure; but let a breach in its continuity arise — relieving the boiling water of all restraint — and in a moment the whole mass flashes into vapour, developing a power no work of man can oppose.