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Quote by Ferdinand Foch

“I am conscious of having served England as I served my own country.”

Quote by Ferdinand Foch

Author

Ferdinand Foch, born on October 2, 1851, and died on March 20, 1929, was a renowned French military figure, often referred to as the 'Father of the French Army'. He served in key positions within the French military and participated in several wars, known for his exceptional military skills and strategic vision. more

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“To inform, and, therefore to reconnoitre , this is the first and constant duty of the advanced guard.”

Firsts Duty Constant

Book:The Principles of War

Source: The Principles of War

“The laurels of victory are at the point of the enemy bayonets. They must be plucked there; they must be carried by a hand-to-hand fight if one really means to conquer.”

Ifs Mean Hands Fighting Enemy Victory Conquer Really Mean Laurels Bayonets

Author:Ferdinand Foch

“There is but one means to extenuate the effects of enemy fire: it is to develop a more violent fire oneself.”

Mean Enemy Fire Effects Oneself Violent

Book:The Principles of War

Source: The Principles of War

“The distribution of troops devoted to the defence of a place includes a garrison, an occupying force, numerically as weak as possible; a reserve as strong as possible, designed for counterattacking and for providing itself, at the moment it goes into action, with a security service which will guard it from any possible surprise.”

Moments Action Strong Force Security Weak Surprise Devoted Providing Troops Reserves Distribution Defence

Book:The Principles of War

Source: The Principles of War

“To be disciplined does not mean being silent, abstaining, or doing only what one thinks one may undertake without risk; it is not the art of eluding responsibility; it means acting in compliance with orders received, and therefore finding in one's own mind, by effort and reflection, the possibility to carry out such orders. It also means finding in one's own will the energy to face the risks involved in execution.”

Thinking Mind May Mean Doe Art Faces Order Energy Effort Acting Responsibility Risk Possibility Involved Findings Reflection Silent Execution Risk It Compliance Abstaining

Author:Ferdinand Foch

“In war there are none but particular cases; everything has there an individual nature; nothing ever repeats itself. In the first place, the data of a military problem are but seldom certain; they are never final . Everything is in a constant state of change and reshaping.”

Firsts War States Problem Certain Individual Cases Military Particular Constant Finals Data Repeats

Book:Precepts and Judgments

Source: Precepts and Judgments

“This absence of similarity among military questions naturally brings out the inability of memory to solve them; also the sterility of invariable forms, such as figures, geometrical drawings ( épures ), plans ( schémas ), etc. One only right solution imposes itself:;: namely, the application, varying according to circumstances, of fixed principles.”

Form Memories Principles Plans Military Figures Circumstances Solutions Solve Absence Drawing Fixed Etc Application Inability Similarity

Book:The Principles of War

Source: The Principles of War

“The truth is, no study is possible on the battle-field; one does there simply what one can in order to apply what one knows . Therefore, in order to do even a little, one has already to know a great deal and to know it well.”

Knows Wells Littles Doe Order Deals Study Fields Truth Is Battle

Book:Precepts and Judgments

Source: Precepts and Judgments

“Every manoeuvre must be the development of a scheme; it must aim at a goal.”

Goal Development Aim Schemes

Book:The Principles of War

Source: The Principles of War

“Far from being a sum of distinct and partial results, victory is the consequence of efforts, some of which are victorious while others appear to be fruitless, which nevertheless all aim at a common goal, all drive at a common result: namely, at a decision, a conclusion which alone can provide victory.”

Goal Decision Results Common Effort Victory Consequence Aim Conclusion Nevertheless Common Goal

Book:Precepts and Judgments

Source: Precepts and Judgments