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Quote by B. H. Liddell Hart

“To ensure attaining an objective, one should have alternate objectives. An attack that converges on one point should threaten, and be able to diverge against another. Only by this flexibility of aim can strategy be attuned to the uncertainty of war.”

Quote by B. H. Liddell Hart

Author

B. H. Liddell Hart

B.H. Liddell Hart was a British military theorist known for his profound understanding of strategy and tactics, whose works have had a profound impact on modern military thought. more

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“The higher level of grand strategy [is] that of conducting war with a far-sighted regard to the state of the peace that will follow.”

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Author:B. H. Liddell Hart

“The more closely [the German army] converged on [Stalingrad], the narrower became their scope for tactical manoeuvre as a lever in loosening resistance. By contrast, the narrowing of the frontage made it easier for the defender to switch his local reserves to any threatened point on the defensive arc.”

Made Military Easier Army Locals Resistance Made It Contrast Reserves Threatened Scope Arcs Defenders Levers Tactical Stalingrad

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“With growing experience, all skillful commanders sought to profit by the power of the defensive, even when on the offensive.”

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Author:B. H. Liddell Hart

“The blurring of the line between policy and strategy] encouraged soldiers to make the preposterous claim that policy should be subservient to their conduct of operations, and (especially in democratic countries) it drew the statesman on to overstep the definite border of his sphere and interfere with his military employees in the actual use of their tools.”

Should Country Use Lines Military Policy Tools Claims Strategy Democratic Soldier Operations Borders Employee Spheres Interfere Definite Statesmen Subservient Democratic Country

Author:B. H. Liddell Hart

“The more usual reason for adopting a strategy of limited aim is that of awaiting a change in the balance of force ... The essential condition of such a strategy is that the drain on him should be disproportionately greater than on oneself.”

Should Reason Force Greater Conditions Military Balance Essentials Aim Strategy Oneself Usual Drains Adopting

Author:B. H. Liddell Hart

“It's like learning a language; you can't speak a language fluently until you find out who you are in that language, and that has as much to do with your body as it does with vocabulary and grammar.”

Doe Body Speak Language Who You Are Your Body Vocabulary Grammar Learning Language

Author:Fred Frith

“To foster the people's willing spirit is often as important as to possess the more concrete forms of power.”

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Author:B. H. Liddell Hart

“No man can exactly calculate the capacity of human genius and stupidity, nor the incapacity of will.”

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“In war the chief incalculable is the human will, which manifests itself in resistance, which in turn lies in the province of tactics. Strategy has not to overcome resistance, except from nature. Its purpose is to diminish the possibility of resistance, and it seeks to fulfil this purpose by exploiting the elements of movement and surprise.”

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“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.”

Ifs States Purpose Enemy Cases Security Military Aim Threat Seeking Abandon Fulfilled Conquest Maintenance

Author:B. H. Liddell Hart