Words of Wisdom: Karl Von Clausewitz (Part 2)

Karl Von Clausewitz was a Prussian soldier and military strategist.  He is most famous for his work, "On War".  Here are some of his thoughts:

  • Everything in war is very simple. But the simplest thing is difficult
  • I shall proceed from the simple to the complex. But in war more than in any other subject we must begin by looking at the nature of the whole; for here more than elsewhere the part and the whole must always be thought of together
  • War is the continuation of politics by other means
  • If the leader is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles
  • War is the province of danger
  • It is even better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past
  • Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are uncertain
  • War is the domain of physical exertion and suffering
  • Politics is the womb in which war develops
  • The more a general is accustomed to place heavy demands on his soldiers, the more he can depend on their response
  • A conqueror is always a lover of peace
  • The political object is the goal, war is the means of reaching it, and the means can never be considered in isolation form their purposes
  • Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination
  • Two qualities are indispensable: first, an intellect that, even in the darkest hour, retains some glimmerings of the inner light which leads to truth; and second, the courage to follow this faint light wherever it may lead



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Related posts:
Words of Wisdom: Sun Tzu (Part 2)
Words of Wisdom: Sun Tzu (Part 1)
Words of Wisdom: General George S. Patton
Words of Wisdom: A Recap of Recaps
Words of Wisdom: On Taking Action
Why I Like Motivational and Inspiring Quotes 

 

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Posted by DDFD at 12/23/2009 9:14 AM
Categories: Self Improvement, Words of Wisdom, Personal Philosophy
Tags: Self Improvement Quotes Karl Von Clausewitz Quotes Personal Philosophy
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