Ferdinand Foch: Quotes about victory

Ferdinand Foch was French soldier and military theorist. Explore interesting quotes on victory.
Ferdinand Foch: 64 quotes6 likes

“The laurels of victory are at the point of the enemy bayonets.”

Ferdinand Foch

Source: Precepts and Judgments (1919), p. 105
Context: The laurels of victory are at the point of the enemy bayonets. They must be plucked there; they must be carried by a hand-to-hand fight if one really means to conquer.

“The will to conquer is the first condition of victory.”

Ferdinand Foch

The Book of Positive Quotations (2007) by John Cook, Steve Deger, and Leslie Ann Gibson, p. 370
Victory is a thing of the will.
perhaps a different and better translation of the same remark) quoted by Barbara Tuchman in The Guns of August (Random House, 1962

“A radish will never stand in the way of victory.”

Ferdinand Foch

As quoted in M*A*S*H, Season 3, Episode 1, "The General Flipped At Dawn"; this seems to be a jocular fabrication.
Misattributed

“Far from being a sum of distinct and partial results, victory is the consequence of efforts, some of which are victorious while others appear to be fruitless, which nevertheless all aim at a common goal, all drive at a common result: namely, at a decision, a conclusion which alone can provide victory.”

Ferdinand Foch

Source: Precepts and Judgments (1919), p. 209

“When the moment arrives for taking decisions, facing responsibilities, entering upon sacrifices — decisions which ought to be taken before they are imposed, responsibilities which ought to be welcomed, for the initiative must be secured and the offensive launched — where should we find a man equal to these uncertain and dangerous tasks were it not among men of a superior stamp, men eager for responsibilities? He must indeed be a man who, being deeply imbued with a will to conquer, shall derive from that will (as well as from a clear perception of the only means that lead to victory) the strength to make an unwavering use of the most formidable rights, to approach with courage all difficulties and all sacrifices, to risk everything; even honour — for a beaten general is disgraced for ever.”

Ferdinand Foch

Source: Precepts and Judgments (1919), p. 140