Carl von Clausewitz Quotes - Page 2

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• Self-reliance is the best defence against the pressures of the moment.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Self, Pressure, Moments

  "On War (Book 1)". Book by Carl von Clausewitz, 1832.

  44 Copy quote

• 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

  Military, Sacrifice, Giving

  Carl von Clausewitz, Michael Howard, Peter Paret (1989). “On War”, p.77, Princeton University Press

  76 Copy quote

• 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

  Military, War, Good Luck

  On War Chapter 1, 21 (p. 86)

  53 Copy quote

• Talent and genius operate outside the rules, and theory conflicts with practice.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Practice, Genius, Talent

  Carl von Clausewitz, Michael Howard, Peter Paret (1989). “On War”, p.140, Princeton University Press

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• To be practical, any plan must take account of the enemy's power to frustrate it.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Enemy, Planning, Plans

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• Politics is the womb in which war develops.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Peace, War, Womb

  Carl von Clausewitz, Michael Howard, Peter Paret (1989). “On War”, p.149, Princeton University Press

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• War is politics by other means.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  War, Mean

  "The Bible of Western War, Now Featuring Cartoon Animals" by Spencer Ackerman, www.wired.com. July 18, 2011.

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• Desperate affairs require desperate remedies.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  War, Affair, Desperate

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• What do we mean by the defeat of the enemy? Simply the destruction of his forces, whether by death, injury, or any other means-either completely or enough to make him stop fighting. . . . The complete or partial destruction of the enemy must be regarded as the sole object of all engagements. . . . Direct annihilation of the enemy's forces must always be the dominant consideration.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Mean, Fighting, Enemy

  Carl von Clausewitz, Michael Howard, Peter Paret (2007). “On War”, p.26, Oxford University Press, USA

  61 Copy quote

• In war, while everything is simple, even the simplest thing is difficult. Difficulties accumulate and produce frictions which no one can comprehend who has not seen war.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Military, War, Simple

  4 Copy quote

• The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Witty, Powerful, Humorous

  19 Copy quote

• There are very few men-and they are the exceptions-who are able to think and feel beyond the present moment

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Men, Thinking, Able

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• Every age has its own kind of war, its own limiting conditions and its own peculiar preconceptions.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  War, Age, Peculiar

  Carl von Clausewitz, Michael Howard, Peter Paret (1989). “On War”, p.593, Princeton University Press

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• 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

  Use, Produce, Absolutes

  12 Copy quote

• There is only one decisive victory: the last.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Military, Victory, Lasts

  7 Copy quote

• Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Inspirational, Strength, Courage

  Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “On War: Vom Kriege: fog of war”, p.35, Aegitas

  36 Copy quote

• The Conqueror is always a lover of peace: he would prefer to take over our country unopposed.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Country, Military, Lovers

  "On War (Book 6)". Book by Carl von Clausewitz, 1832.

  14 Copy quote

• The side that feels the lesser urge for peace will naturally get the better bargain.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Sides, Feels, Bargains

  Carl von Clausewitz (2008). “On War”, p.92, Princeton University Press

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• In war more than anywhere else, things do not turn out as we expect.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  War, Turns

  Carl von Clausewitz (2008). “On War”, p.193, Princeton University Press

  7 Copy quote

• If the leader is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Leadership, Military, Ambition

  Carl von Clausewitz (2012). “Principles of War”, p.65, Courier Corporation

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• The general unreliability of all information presents a special problem in war: all action takes place, so to speak, in the twilight, which, like fog or moonlight, often tends to make things seem grotesque and larger than they really are. Whatever is hidden from full view in this feeble light has to be guessed at by talent, or simply left to chance. So once again for the lack of objective knowledge, one has to trust to talent or to luck.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  War, Twilight, Fog

  Carl von Clausewitz, Michael Howard, Peter Paret (1989). “On War”, p.140, Princeton University Press

  34 Copy quote

• 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

  Military, War, Errors

  77 Copy quote

• 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

  Military, War, Firsts

  Carl von Clausewitz (2008). “On War”, p.88, Princeton University Press

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• War is...a trinity of violence, chance, and reason.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  War, Violence, Chance

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• Principles and rules are intended to provide a thinking man with a frame of reference.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Men, Thinking, Principles

  Carl von Clausewitz, Michael Howard, Peter Paret (1989). “On War”, p.141, Princeton University Press

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