“The good devout man first makes inner preparation for the actions he has later to perform. His outward actions do not draw him into lust and vice; rather it is he who bends them into the shape of reason and right judgement. Who has a stiffer battle to fight than the man who is striving to conquer himself.” MenFirstsReasonActionFightingHe ManBattleShapesDrawsStriveVicesLustConquerPreparationJudgement Author:Thomas a Kempis
“The soul may be compared to a field of battle, where the armies are ready every moment to encounter. Not a single vice but has a more powerful opponent, and not one virtue but may be overborne by a combination of vices.” MaySoulMomentsPowerfulVirtueFieldsReadyBattleArmyVicesCombinationOpponentsEncounters Book:Miscellaneous works Source: Miscellaneous works
“Remember: there is no place, no community, no external circumstance that is not serviceable for the battle you have chosen. The exception is only such work as directly serves your vices.” RememberCommunityCircumstancesBattleVicesChosenExceptionAsceticism Book:Way of the Ascetics: The Ancient Tradition of Discipline and Inner Growth Source: Way of the Ascetics: The Ancient Tradition of Discipline and Inner Growth
“The commander must decide how he will fight the battle before it begins. He must then decide who he will use the military effort at his disposal to force the battle to swing the way he wishes it to go; he must make the enemy dance to his tune from the beginning and not vice versa.” WayUseFightingForceWishEffortEnemyMilitaryBattleVicesPreparationTunesSwingsCommandersVice Versa Author:Bernard Law Montgomery