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 simple together
I shall proceed from the simple to the complex. But in war more than in any other subject we must begin by looking at the nature of the whole; for here more than elsewhere the part and the whole must always be thought of together.
lovers conqueror
A conqueror is always a lover of peace.
men roots majority
Timidity is the root of prudence in the majority of men.
powerful character sea
We repeat again: strength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one’s balance in spite of them. Even with the violence of emotion, judgment and principle must still function like a ship’s compass, which records the slightest variations however rough the sea.
peace real war
War is not merely a political act but a real political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse, a carrying out of the same by other means.
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.
strong military enemy
If you entrench yourself behind strong fortifications, you compel the enemy seek a solution elsewhere.
clarity absolute-certainty intellect
Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating.
witty powerful humorous
The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy.
drinking sleep fighting
Whenever armed forces . . . are used, the idea of combat must be present. . . . The end for which a soldier is recruited, clothed, armed, and trained, the whole object of his sleeping, eating, drinking, and marching is simply that he should fight at the right place and the right time.
audacity damage given
Given the same amount of intelligence, timidity will do a thousand times more damage than audacity
enemy campaigns firsts
No campaign plan survives first contact with the enemy
peace war womb
Politics is the womb in which war develops.
war military uncertain
Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are uncertain.