Close combat, man to man, is plainly to be regarded as the real basis of combat. Carl von Clausewitz More Quotes by Carl von Clausewitz More Quotes From Carl von Clausewitz In short, absolute, so-called mathematical, factors never find a firm basis in military calculations. From the very start, there is an interplay of possibilities, probabilities, good luck and bad, that weaves its way throughout the length and breadth of the tapestry. In the whole range of human activities, war most closely resembles a game of cards. Carl von Clausewitz good-luckmilitarywar The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy. Carl von Clausewitz powerfulhumorouswitty If the enemy is to be coerced, you must put him in a situation that is even more unpleasant than the sacrifice you call on him to make. The hardships of the situation must not be merely transient - at least not in appearance. Otherwise, the enemy would not give in, but would wait for things to improve. Carl von Clausewitz sacrificemilitarygiving The first, the supreme, the most far-reaching act of judgment that the statesman and commander have to make is to establish ... the kind of war on which they are embarking. Carl von Clausewitz militarywarfirsts After we have thought out everything carefully in advance and have sought and found without prejudice the most plausible plan, we must not be ready to abandon it at the slightest provocation. should this certainty be lacking, we must tell ourselves that nothing is accomplished in warfare without daring; that the nature of war certainly does not let us see at all times where we are going; that what is probable will always be probable though at the moment it may not seem so; and finally, that we cannot be readily ruined by a single error, if we have made reasonable preparations. Carl von Clausewitz errorsmilitarywar War is the realm of uncertainty; three quarters of the factors on which action is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty. Carl von Clausewitz fogthreewar Where absolute superiority is not attainable, you must produce a relative one at the decisive point by making skillful use ofwhat you have. Carl von Clausewitz absolutesproduceuse Savage peoples are ruled by passion, civilized peoples by the mind. Carl von Clausewitz savagespassionmind Talent and genius operate outside the rules, and theory conflicts with practice. Carl von Clausewitz talentgeniuspractice The object of defense is preservation; and since it is easier to hold ground than to take it, defense is easier than attack. But defense has a passive purpose: preservation; and attack a positive one: conquest.... 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 strongwarlong To discover how much of our resources must be mobilized for war, we must first examine our political aim and that of the enemy. We must gauge the strength and situation of the opposite state. We must gauge the character and abilities of its government and people and do the same in regard to our own. Finally, we must evaluate the political sympathies of other states and the effect the war may have on them. Carl von Clausewitz governmentcharacterwar The art of war in its highest point of view is policy. Carl von Clausewitz viewswarart Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior. Carl von Clausewitz strengthcourageinspirational Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating. Carl von Clausewitz absolute-certaintyintellectclarity Given the same amount of intelligence, timidity will do a thousand times more damage than audacity Carl von Clausewitz damageaudacitymilitary The best form of defense is attack. Carl von Clausewitz defenseformmilitary A general in time of war is constantly bombarded by reports both true and false; by errors arising from fear or negligence or hastiness; by disobedience born of right or wrong interpretations, of ill will; of a proper or mistaken sense of duty; of laziness; or of exhaustion; and by accident that nobody could have foreseen. In short, he is exposed to countless impressions, most of them disturbing, few of them encouraging. ... If a man were to yield to these pressures, he would never complete an operation. Carl von Clausewitz errorsmenwar There are very few men-and they are the exceptions-who are able to think and feel beyond the present moment Carl von Clausewitz ablementhinking To be practical, any plan must take account of the enemy's power to frustrate it. Carl von Clausewitz planningplansenemy Whenever armed forces . . . are used, the idea of combat must be present. . . . The end for which a soldier is recruited, clothed, armed, and trained, the whole object of his sleeping, eating, drinking, and marching is simply that he should fight at the right place and the right time. Carl von Clausewitz fightingdrinkingsleep
