“In the case of a state that is seeking not conquest but the maintenance of its security, the aim is fulfilled if the threat is removed - if the enemy is led to abandon his purpose.” IfsStatesPurposeEnemyCasesSecurityMilitaryAimThreatSeekingAbandonFulfilledConquestMaintenance Author:B. H. Liddell Hart
“[The] aim is not so much to seek battle as to seek a strategic situation so advantageous that if it does not of itself produce the decision, its continuation by a battle is sure to achieve this. In other words, dislocation is the aim of strategy.” IfsDoeDecisionSituationAchieveMilitaryProduceBattleAimStrategyStrategicContinuationDislocation Author:B. H. Liddell Hart
“For if we merely take what obviously appears the line of least resistance, its obviousness will appeal to the opponent also; and this line may no longer be that of least resistance. In studying the physical aspect, we must never lose sight of the psychological, and only when both are combined is the strategy truly an indirect approach, calculated to dislocate the opponent's balance.” IfsMayLosesLinesStudyMilitaryBalanceApproachAspectSightStrategyResistancePsychologicalAppealsOpponentsIndirectObviousness Author:B. H. Liddell Hart
“If you find your opponent in a strong position costly to force, you should leave him a line of retreat as the quickest way of loosening his resistance. It should, equally, be a principle of policy, especially in war, to provide your opponent with a ladder by which he can climb down.” IfsWayShouldWarStrongForceLinesPrinciplesMilitaryPolicyPositionResistanceOpponentsClimbsRetreatLadders Author:B. H. Liddell Hart
“Opposition to the truth is inevitable, especially if it takes the form of a new idea, but the degree of resistance can be diminished- by giving thought not only to the aim but to the method of approach. Avoid a frontal attack on a long established position; instead, seek to turn it by flank movement, so that a more penetrable side is exposed to the thrust of truth. But, in any such indirect approach, take care not to diverge from the truth- for nothing is more fatal to its real advancement than to lapse into untruth.” IfsGivingLongIdeasRealCareFormTurnsSidesMovementPositionTruth IsDegreesApproachAimMethodTake CareResistanceInevitableOppositionExposedNew IdeasAdvancementThrustIndirectUntruthLapses Book:Why Don't We Learn from History? Source: Why Don't We Learn from History?
“If we clear the air of the fog of catchwords which surround the conduct of war, and grasp that in the human will lies the source and mainspring of all conflict, as of all other activities of man's life, it becomes clear that our object in war can only be attained by the subjugation of the opposing will. All acts, such as defeat in the field, propaganda, blockade, diplomacy, or attack on the centres of government and population, are seen to be but means to that end.” IfsMenHumansMeanWarEndsGovernmentLyingClearAirFieldsObjectsSourceActivityConflictDefeatPopulationPropagandaSurroundCentreFogDiplomacyOpposingSubjugationHuman WillBlockades Author:B. H. Liddell Hart
