Every suspension of offensive action, either from erroneous views, from fear or from indolence, is in favor of the side acting defensively. - Carl von Clausewitz

No one starts a war - or rather, no one in his senses ought to do so - without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by that war and how he intends to conduct it.

The political object is the goal, war is the means of reaching it, and means can never be considered in isolation from their purpose

"Von der Goltz in excuse for the action of the late President Kruger in 1899: "The Statesman who, knowing his instrument to be ready, and seeing War inevitable, hesitates to strike first is guilty of a crime against his country.