Carl von Clausewitz
Carl von Clausewitz
Carl Philipp Gottfriedvon Clausewitz was a Prussian general and military theorist who stressed the "moral"and political aspects of war. His most notable work, Vom Kriege, was unfinished at his death. Clausewitz was a realist in many different senses and, while in some respects a romantic, also drew heavily on the rationalist ideas of the European Enlightenment...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionSoldier
Date of Birth1 June 1780
CountryGermany
war hands limits
War is an act of force, and to the application of that force there is no limit. Each of the adversaries forces the hand of the other, and a reciprocal action results which in theory can have no limit....
responsibility average judgement
Responsibility and danger do not tend to free or stimulate the average person's mind- rather the contrary; but wherever they do liberate an individual's judgement and confidence we can be sure that we are in the presence of exceptional ability.
inspirational strength courage
Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior.
inspirational past achievement
It is even better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past.
blow giving enemy
The first and most important rule to observe...is to use our entire forces with the utmost energy. The second rule is to concentrate our power as much as possible against that section where the chief blows are to be delivered and to incur disadvantages elsewhere, so that our chances of success may increase at the decisive point. The third rule is never to waste time. Finally, the fourth rule is to follow up our successes with the utmost energy. Only pursuit of the beaten enemy gives the fruits of victory.
war violence chance
War is...a trinity of violence, chance, and reason.
men thinking principles
Principles and rules are intended to provide a thinking man with a frame of reference.
self-confidence balance should
With uncertainty in one scale, courage and self-confidence should be thrown into the other to correct the balance. The greater they are, the greater the margin that can be left for accidents.
real war men
Close combat, man to man, is plainly to be regarded as the real basis of combat.
men thinking able
There are very few men-and they are the exceptions-who are able to think and feel beyond the present moment
perseverance execution determined
Be audacious and cunning in your plans, firm and persevering in their execution, determined to find a glorious end.
military defense form
The best form of defense is attack.
determination expression mind
Our knowledge of circumstances has increased, but our uncertainty, instead of having diminished, has only increased. The reason of this is, that we do not gain all our experience at once, but by degrees; so our determinations continue to be assailed incessantly by fresh experience; and the mind, if we may use the expression, must always be under arms.
war lines campaigns
There is nothing more common than to find considerations of supply affecting the strategic lines of a campaign and a war.