“While there are many causes for which a state goes to war, its fundamental object can be epitomized as that of ensuring the continuance of its policy - in face of the determination of the opposing state to pursue a contrary policy. In the human will lies the source and mainspring of conflict.” HumansWarStatesFacesLyingCausesMilitaryPolicyObjectsSourceConflictDeterminationFundamentalsContraryPursueOpposingHuman WillContinuance Author:B. H. Liddell Hart
“It should be the aim of grand strategy to discover and pierce the Achilles' heel of the opposing government's power to make war. Strategy, in turn, should seek to penetrate a joint in the harness of the opposing forces. To apply one's strength where the opponent is strong weakens oneself disproportionately to the effect attained. To strike with strong effect, one must strike at weakness.” ShouldWarGovernmentTurnsStrongForceEffectsMilitaryWeaknessAimStrategyOneselfStrikesOpponentsHeelsJointsPenetrateOpposingPierceHarnessAchillesWar StrategyAchilles Heel Author:B. H. Liddell Hart
“In any problem where an opposing force exists and cannot be regulated, one must foresee and provide for alternative courses. Adaptability is the law which governs survival in war as in life ... To be practical, any plan must take account of the enemy's power to frustrate it; the best chance of overcoming such obstruction is to have a plan that can be easily varied to fit the circumstances met.” WarProblemLawCoursesForceChanceEnemyPlansMilitaryFitCircumstancesMetsSurvivalOvercomingAccountsPracticalsAlternativesOpposingAdaptabilityObstruction Author:B. H. Liddell Hart
“It is folly to imagine that the aggressive types, whether individuals or nations, can be bought off ... since the payment of danegeld stimulates a demand for more danegeld. But they can be curbed. Their very belief in force makes them more susceptible to the deterrent effect of a formidable opposing force.” IndividualBeliefForceNationsImagineEffectsMilitaryTypeDemandFollyAggressiveImagine ThatPaymentOpposingFormidableSusceptibleDeterrent Author:B. H. Liddell Hart
“The profoundest truth of war is that the issue of battle is usually decided in the minds of the opposing commanders, not in the bodies of their men.” MenMindWarBodyTruthHistoryPowerIssuesBattleConscienceDecidedCommandersOpposing Book:Sherman: Soldier, Realist, American Source: Sherman: Soldier, Realist, American
“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
