Ferdinand Foch: Quotes about war

Ferdinand Foch was French soldier and military theorist. Explore interesting quotes on war.
Ferdinand Foch: 64   quotes 6   likes

“Everything in war is linked together, is mutually interdependent, mutually interpenetrating.”

Source: Precepts and Judgments (1919), p. 214
Context: The military art is not an accomplishment, an art for dilettante, a sport. You do not make war without reason, without an object, as you would give yourself up to music, painting, hunting, lawn tennis, where there is no great harm done whether you stop altogether or go on, whether you do little or much. Everything in war is linked together, is mutually interdependent, mutually interpenetrating. When you are at war you have no power to act at random. Each operation has a raison d'etre, that is an object; that object, once determined, fixes the nature and the value of the means to be resorted to as well as the use which ought to be made of the forces.

“A war not only arises, but derives its nature, from the political ideas, the moral sentiments, and the international relations obtaining at the moment when it breaks out.”

Source: Precepts and Judgments (1919), p. 211
Context: A war not only arises, but derives its nature, from the political ideas, the moral sentiments, and the international relations obtaining at the moment when it breaks out.
This amounts to saying : try and know why and with the help of what you are going to act; then you will find out how to act.

“The unknown is the governing condition of war.”

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

“In tactics, action is the governing rule of war.”

Source: Precepts and Judgments (1919), p. 79