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Quote by Carl von Clausewitz

“Obstinacy is a fault of temperament. Stubbornness and intolerance of contradiction result from a special kind of egotism, which elevates above everything else the pleasure of its autonomous intellect, to which others must bow.”

Quote by Carl von Clausewitz

Work

This seminal work delves into the principles of warfare, offering insights on the nature of conflict and the conduct of military campaigns. more

Author

Carl von Clausewitz

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. more

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“Of all the passions that inspire a man in a battle, none, we have to admit, is so powerful and so constant as the longing for honor and reknown.”

Men Passion Powerful Inspire Honor Battle Longing Constant

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“Only the element of chance is needed to make war a gamble, and that element is never absent.”

War Chance Needed Elements Absent Chances Are Gamble

Book:On War

Source: On War

“Politics is the womb in which war develops - where its outlines already exist in their hidden rudimentary form, like the characteristics of living creatures in their embryos.”

War Form Creatures Characteristics Womb Outlines Living Creatures Embryos

Book:On War

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“Self-reliance is the best defence against the pressures of the moment.”

Self Moments Pressure Self Reliance Reliance Defence

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“Strength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one's balance in spite of them.”

Doe Character Feelings Powerful Balance Spite Maintaining Strength Of Character

Book:On War

Source: On War

“Talent and genius operate outside the rules, and theory conflicts with practice.”

Practice Talent Theory Genius Conflict Talent And Genius

Book:On War

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“The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing practical to alter or deflect the impulse to destroy the enemy, which is central to the very idea of war.”

Ideas War Done Enough Shows Enemy Civilization Constant Improvement Practicals Invention Impulse Firearms Gunpowder Constant Improvement

Book:On War

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“The more physical the activity, the less the difficulties will be. The more the activity becomes intellectual and turns into motives which exercise a determining influence on the commander's will, the more the difficulties will increase.”

Turns Influence Exercise Activity Intellectual Difficulty Increase Motive Commanders

Book:On War

Source: On War

“The side that feels the lesser urge for peace will naturally get the better bargain.”

Feels Sides Urges Bargains

Book:On War

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“War is only caused through the political intercourse of governments and nations - war is nothing but a continuation of political intercourse with an admixture of other means.”

Mean War Government Political Nations Intercourse Continuation

Author:Carl von Clausewitz