“There are cases in which the greatest daring is the greatest wisdom.”
Carl von Clausewitz book On War
Variant: There are times when the utmost daring is the height of wisdom.
Source: On War (1832), Book 2
Quotes from bookOn War
Carl von ClausewitzOriginal title Vom Kriege (German, 1832)
Vom Kriege is a book on war and military strategy by Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz , written mostly after the Napoleonic wars, between 1816 and 1830, and published posthumously by his wife Marie von Brühl in 1832. It has been translated into English several times as On War. On War is an unfinished work. Clausewitz had set about revising his accumulated manuscripts in 1827, but did not live to finish the task. His wife edited his collected works and published them between 1832 and 1835.
Carl von Clausewitz book On War
Source: On War (1832), Book 1, Chapter 3.
Context: Strength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one’s balance in spite of them. Even with the violence of emotion, judgment and principle must still function like a ship’s compass, which records the slightest variations however rough the sea.
“War is nothing but a continuation of politics with the admixture of other means.”
Carl von Clausewitz book On War
Variant: War Is Merely the Continuation of Policy by Other Means
Source: On War (1832), Book 1, Chapter 1, Section 24, in the Princeton University Press translation (1976)
Variant translation: War is merely the continuation of politics by other means.
Context: War Is Merely the Continuation of Policy by Other Means
We see, therefore, that war is not merely an act of policy but a true political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse carried on with other means. What remains peculiar to war is simply the peculiar nature of its means.
Carl von Clausewitz book On War
Source: On War (1832), Book 1, Chapter 1, Section 3, Paragraph 1.
Context: Kind-hearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat the 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 mistakes that come from kindness are the very worst.
“Everything in war is simple, but the simplest thing is difficult.”
Carl von Clausewitz book On War
On War (1832), Book 1
“War is such a dangerous business that mistakes that come from kindness are the very worst.”
Carl von Clausewitz book On War
Source: On War (1832), Book 1, Chapter 1, Section 3, Paragraph 1.
Context: Kind-hearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat the 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 mistakes that come from kindness are the very worst.
“All war presupposes human weakness and seeks to exploit it.”
Carl von Clausewitz book On War
On War (1832), Book 5
“Boldness governed by superior intellect is the mark of a hero.”
Carl von Clausewitz book On War
On War (1832), Book 3
“The conqueror is always a lover of peace; he would prefer to take over our country unopposed.”
Carl von Clausewitz book On War
Source: On War (1832), Book 6, Ch. 2
“Timidity is the root of prudence in the majority of men.”
Carl von Clausewitz book On War
On War (1832), Book 3
