Carl von Clausewitz: Trending quotes (page 4)

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“The commander's talents are given greatest scope in rough hilly country. Mountains allow him too little real command over his scattered units and he is unable to control them all; in open country, control is a simple matter and does not test his ability to the fullest.”

Carl von Clausewitz book On War

On War (1832), Book 3

Mountain , Country

“The moral elements are among the most important in war. They constitute the spirit that permeates war as a whole, and at an early stage they establish a close affinity with the will that moves and leads a whole mass of force, practically merging with it, since the will is itself a moral quantity. Unfortunately they will not yield to academic wisdom. They cannot be classified or counted. They have to be seen or felt. … It is paltry philosophy if in the old-fashioned way one lays down rules and principles in total disregard of moral values. As soon as these appear one regards them as exceptions, which gives them a certain scientific status, and thus makes them into rules. Or again one may appeal to genius, which is above all rules; which amounts to admitting that rules are not only made for idiots, but are idiotic in themselves.”

Carl von Clausewitz book On War

Ch 3 : Moral Factors, as translated by Michael Howard and Peter Paret.
On War (1832), Book 3

Wisdom , War , Way , Fashion

“Anyone who feels the urge to undertake such a task must dedicate himself for his labors as he would prepare for a pilgrimage to distant lands. He must spare no time or effort, fear no earthly power or rank, and rise above his own vanity or false modesty in order to tell, in accordance with the expression of the Code Napoléon, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

Carl von Clausewitz book On War

On War (1832), Book 2

Truth , Fear , Feeling , Effort

“What is the object of defense? To preserve. To preserve is easier than to acquire.”

Carl von Clausewitz book On War

Source: On War (1832), Book 6, Chapter 1.

“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 book On War

Source: On War (1832), Book 6, Chapter 1.

Fear

“If defense is the stronger form of war, yet has a negative object, it follows that it should be used only so long as weakness compels, and be abandoned as soon as we are strong enough to pursue a positive object.”

Carl von Clausewitz book On War

Source: On War (1832), Book 6, Chapter 1.

War , Strong

“But if the assailant, without troubling himself about the existence of the Army awaiting his attack in a defensive position, advances with his main body by another line in pursuit of his object, then he 'passes by the position,' and if he can do this with impunity, and really does it, he will immediately enforce the abandonment of the position, consequently put an end to its usefulness.”

Carl von Clausewitz book On War

Source: On War (1832), Book 6, Chapter 1.

“Surprise becomes effective when we suddenly face the enemy at one point with far more troops than he expected. This type of numerical superiority is quite distinct from numerical superiority in general: it is the most powerful medium in the art of war.”

Carl von Clausewitz book On War

Source: On War (1832), Book 6, Chapter 1.

War , Art