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. Ferdinand Foch More Quotes by Ferdinand Foch More Quotes From Ferdinand Foch The distribution of troops devoted to the defence of a place includes a garrison, an occupying force, numerically as weak as possible; a reserve as strong as possible, designed for counterattacking and for providing itself, at the moment it goes into action, with a security service which will guard it from any possible surprise. Ferdinand Foch troops strong action In tactics, action is the governing rule of war. Ferdinand Foch tactics military war Every manoeuvre must be the development of a scheme; it must aim at a goal. Ferdinand Foch schemes development goal One does simply what one can in order to apply what one knows . Ferdinand Foch knows doe order In war there are none but particular cases; everything has there an individual nature; nothing ever repeats itself. In the first place, the data of a military problem are but seldom certain; they are never final . Everything is in a constant state of change and reshaping. Ferdinand Foch data military war The power to command has never meant the power to remain mysterious. Ferdinand Foch charisma command mysterious A beaten general is disgraced forever. Ferdinand Foch beaten military forever This absence of similarity among military questions naturally brings out the inability of memory to solve them; also the sterility of invariable forms, such as figures, geometrical drawings ( épures ), plans ( schémas ), etc. One only right solution imposes itself:;: namely, the application, varying according to circumstances, of fixed principles. Ferdinand Foch drawing military memories All the same, the fundamental truths which govern that art are still unchangeable; just as the principles of mechanics must always govern architecture, whether the building be made of wood, stone, iron or concrete; just as the principles of harmony govern music of whatever kind. It is still necessary, then, to establish the principles of war. Ferdinand Foch iron war art 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 effort decision goal To inform, and, therefore to reconnoitre , this is the first and constant duty of the advanced guard. Ferdinand Foch constant duty firsts No study is possible on the battlefield. Ferdinand Foch battlefields study Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value. Ferdinand Foch airplane military silly A lost battle is a battle one thinks one has lost. Ferdinand Foch None but a coward dares to boast that he has never known fear. Ferdinand Foch The fundamental qualities for good execution of a plan is first; intelligence; then discernment and judgment, which enable one to recognize the best method as to attain it; the singleness of purpose; and, lastly, what is most essential of all, will-stubborn will. Ferdinand Foch The will to conquer is the first condition of victory. Ferdinand Foch first will conquer victory It takes 15,000 casualties to train a major general. Ferdinand Foch takes general major train
