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Carl von Clausewitz

Carl von Clausewitz Quotes

Military Historian

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Famous Carl von Clausewitz Quotes

“The first and most important rule to observe...is to use our entire forces with the utmost energy. The second rule is to concentrate our power as much as possible against that section where the chief blows are to be delivered and to incur disadvantages elsewhere, so that our chances of success may increase at the decisive point. The third rule is never to waste time. Finally, the fourth rule is to follow up our successes with the utmost energy. Only pursuit of the beaten enemy gives the fruits of victory.”

GivingFirstsMayImportantUseEnergyForceChanceEnemyVictoryWasteThirdsIncreaseFruitBlowPursuitChiefsWasting TimeElsewhereFourthBeatenSectionsDisadvantagesFollow Up
Author:Carl von Clausewitz
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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.”

WarProblemLightSeemsActionLeftSpeakChanceViewsSpecialTalentInformationLuckObjectivesTwilightFogMoonlightGrotesqueUnreliability
Book:On War
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“War is the realm of uncertainty; three-quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty. ... war is the realm of chance. No other human activity gives it greater scope; no other has such incessant and varied dealings with this intruder. Chance makes everything more uncertain and interferes with the whole course of events.”

GivingHumansWarWholeActionThreeCoursesChanceGreaterEventsActivityFactorsUncertaintyRealmsQuartersUncertainInterfereFogScopeHuman ActivityDealingsIncessantIntruders
Book:On War
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