Claude Louis Hector de Villars Quotes (7 quotes)

Claude Louis Hector de Villars: 7 quotes 0 likes

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Famous Claude Louis Hector de Villars Quotes

“I was unable before starting to formulate a plan of campaign because I did not know whether I should find an army there … In fact I found the troops in a deplorable condition, without clothes, without arms, and without bread.”

Claude Louis Hector de Villars

Villars reflecting on the state of the French army in 1709 when he took command, quoted in Winston Churchill, Marlborough: His Life and Times

“I am going to drive your enemies so far that they shall not again see the banks of the Scheldt; and by a battle on my arrival, to regain all that has been taken from your majesty.”

Claude Louis Hector de Villars

Villars to Louis XIV upon departing for the 1709 campaign against the Allies, quoted in Prince Eugene's memoirs
Source: https://ia800303.us.archive.org/11/items/memoirsofprincee00lign/memoirsofprincee00lign.pdf

“If God lets us have the grace of losing such a battle again, Your Majesty can count on all of his enemies being destroyed.”

Claude Louis Hector de Villars

Villars to Louis XIV after the Battle of Malplaquet, quoted in Anquetil, Louis-Pierre, Histoire de France depuis les Gaulois jusqu'à la mort de Louis XVI (1819), Paris: Chez Janet et Cotelle, p. 241.

“My principal attention was always directed to the study of the younger generals. Such a one I found, by the boldness of his character, fit to lead a column of attack; another, from a disposition naturally cautious, but without being deficient in courage, more perfectly to be relied on for the defence of a country.”

Claude Louis Hector de Villars

Quoted in The officer's manual. Napoleon's maxims of war

“When we are determined upon war, we should carry it on vigorously and without trifling.”

Claude Louis Hector de Villars

Quoted in The officer's manual. Napoleon's maxims of war

“When the first shot is fired, no one can calculate what will be the issue of the war. It is, therefore, of vast importance to reflect maturely before we begin it.”

Claude Louis Hector de Villars

Quoted in The officer's manual. Napoleon's maxims of war

“Do you want to know where Prince Eugene’s real enemies are? They are in Vienna, while mine are in Versailles.”

Claude Louis Hector de Villars

Also quoted by Voltaire ("Voulez-vous que je vous dise où sont les vrais ennemis du Prince Eugene? Ils sont à Vienne, et les miens à Versailles.")
Source: https://www.bartleby.com/344/391.html