Carl von Clausewitz Quotes - Page 2

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• Boldness governed by superior intellect is the mark of a hero.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Hero, Mark, Intellect

  Carl von Clausewitz (2008). “On War”, p.192, Princeton University Press

  6 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

• 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

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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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• 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

  24 Copy quote

• War therefore is an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfill our will.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  War, Opponents, Violence

  Carl von Clausewitz (2016). “On War: Vom Kriege: fog of war”, p.7, Aegitas

  9 Copy quote

• Boldness becomes rarer, the higher the rank.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Higher, Boldness

  5 Copy quote

• It is even better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Inspirational, Past, Achievement

  88 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

  19 Copy quote

• Desperate affairs require desperate remedies.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  War, Affair, Desperate

  5 Copy quote

• The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Witty, Powerful, Humorous

  18 Copy quote

• Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Determination, Military, Persistence

  Carl von Clausewitz (1956). “On War”, p.1389, Library of Alexandria

  86 Copy quote

• 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

  Strong, War, Long

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• 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

• 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

  53 Copy quote

• 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

• 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

• Four elements make up the climate of war: danger, exertion, uncertainty and chance.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  War, Four Elements, Climate

  Carl von Clausewitz (2008). “On War”, p.104, Princeton University Press

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• It should be noted that the seeds of wisdom that are to bear fruit in the intellect are sown less by critical studies and learned monographs than by insights, broad impressions, and flashes of intuition.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Wisdom, Intuition, Fruit

  Carl von Clausewitz, Michael Howard, Peter Paret (1989). “On War”, p.185, Princeton University Press

  6 Copy quote

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

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Enemy, Planning, Plans

  10 Copy quote

• Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are uncertain.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Military, War, Uncertain

  On War (1832). Not just in war.

  8 Copy quote

• Strength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one's balance in spite of them.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Powerful, Character, Feelings

  Carl von Clausewitz, Michael Howard, Peter Paret (1989). “On War”, p.107, Princeton University Press

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• Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating.

  Carl von Clausewitz

  Clarity, Absolute Certainty, Intellect

  Carl von Clausewitz (2008). “On War”, p.86, Princeton University Press

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• 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

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