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
lovers conqueror
A conqueror is always a lover of peace.
chance mechanic friction
This tremendous friction which cannot, as in mechanics, be reduced to a few points, is everywhere in contact with chance, and brings about effects that cannot be measured just because they are largely due to chance. ...
men giving intellectual
...as man under pressure tends to give in to physical and intellectual weakness, only great strength of will can lead to the objective.
art war winning
Tactics is the art of using troops in battle; strategy is the art of using battles to win the war
judging criticism
Criticism exists only to recognize the truth, not to act as judge.
battle
Battles decide everything.
art war simple
In war everything is simple, but it's the simple things that are difficult.
determination military persistence
Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination.
war mind firsts
No one starts a war--or rather, no one in his sense ought to do so--without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by the war and how he intends to conduct it.
war mean independent
War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means.
art kindness war
Kind-hearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat an enemy without too much bloodshed, and might imagine this is the true goal of the art of war. Pleasant as it sounds; it is a fallacy that must be exposed: War is such a dangerous business that the mistakes which come from kindness are the very worst.
inspirational courage two
Two qualities are indispensable: first, an intellect that, even in the darkest hour, retains some glimmerings of the inner light which leads to truth; and second, the courage to follow this faint light wherever it may lead.
dream perfect enemy
The enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan.
military war errors
After we have thought out everything carefully in advance and have sought and found without prejudice the most plausible plan, we must not be ready to abandon it at the slightest provocation. should this certainty be lacking, we must tell ourselves that nothing is accomplished in warfare without daring; that the nature of war certainly does not let us see at all times where we are going; that what is probable will always be probable though at the moment it may not seem so; and finally, that we cannot be readily ruined by a single error, if we have made reasonable preparations.