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Carl von Clausewitz

Carl von Clausewitz Quotes

Military Historian

Carl von Clausewitz, born on July 1, 1780, and died on November 16, 1831, was a Prussian military theorist and historian. He is considered one of the founders of modern military theory. Clausewitz's most famous work, 'On War,' has had a profound impact on military strategy and warfare theory to this day.

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All War Military Enemy Ifs Men Mean May Action Force Humans Whole Activity Chance Firsts Uncertainty Art Giving Intellect Kind Mind

Famous Carl von Clausewitz Quotes

“Just as some plants bear fruit only if they don't shoot up too high, so in practical arts the leaves and flowers of theory must be pruned and the plant kept close to its proper soil- experience.”

Ifs Art Flower Theory Bears Plant Fruit Practicals Soil Leaves And Flowers

Book:On War

Source: On War

“Tactics is the art of using troops in battle; strategy is the art of using battles to win the war”

Art War Winning Battle Strategy Troops Tactics

Author:Carl von Clausewitz

“The art of war in its highest point of view is policy.”

Art War Views Policy Highest Point Of View Art Of War

Book:On War

Source: On War

“The world has a way of undermining complex plans. This is particularly true in fast moving environments. A fast moving environment can evolve more quickly than a complex plan can be adapted to it. By the time you have adapted, the target has changed.”

World Way Art War Moving Environment Plans Changed Complexes Evolve Target Art Of War Adapted Undermining

Author:Carl von Clausewitz

“In war everything is simple, but it's the simple things that are difficult.”

Art War Difficult Simple Art Of War Simple Things

Author:Carl von Clausewitz

“Rather than comparing [war] to art we could more accurately compare it to commerce, which is also a conflict of human interests and activities; and it is still closer to politics, which in turn may be considered as a kind of commerce on a larger scale.”

Humans Kind May Art Stills War Turns Interest Activity Conflict Scales Compare Commerce

Book:On War

Source: On War

“Kind-hearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat an enemy without too much bloodshed, and might imagine this is the true goal of the art of war. Pleasant as it sounds; it is a fallacy that must be exposed: War is such a dangerous business that the mistakes which come from kindness are the very worst.”

People Thinking Way Kind Art War Might Courses Sound Goal Mistake Enemy Kindness Too Much Imagine Worst Dangerous Defeat Pleasant Exposed Art Of War Hearted Fallacy Ingenious Bloodshed Kind Hearted

Book:On War

Source: On War

“Surprise becomes effective when we suddenly face the enemy at one point with far more troops than he expected. This type of numerical superiority is quite distinct from numerical superiority in general: it is the most powerful medium in the art of war.”

Art War Faces Powerful Enemy Type Surprise Expected Mediums Most Powerful Troops Superiority Art Of War

Book:On War

Source: On War

About the Author

Born: July 1, 1780
Died: November 16, 1831
Known for: Military Historian
Quotes: 168

Related Topics

War Military Enemy Ifs Men Mean May Action Force Humans Whole Activity Chance Firsts Uncertainty Art Giving Intellect Kind Mind

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

On WarRelated source material

On War: Vom Kriege: fog of warRelated source material

Principles of WarRelated source material

On war: Translated from the German by O.J. Matthijs JollesRelated source material

Strategy Six PackRelated source material

Carl von Clausewitz: Historical and Political WritingsRelated source material

Essential On War for Business: The Classic Work by Carl von Clausewitz for Business TodayRelated source material

On Victory and Defeat: FromRelated source material

On War: Volume 1Related source material

Roots of Strategy: 3 Military ClassicsRelated source material

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