Quotes About Strategy

In war, as in prostitution, amateurs are often better than professionals.

My life has been devoted to arms, yet I look upon war at all times, and under all circumstances, as a national calamity to be avoided if compatible with national honor.

If I should come out of this war alive, I will have more luck than brains.

War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.

It is madness for any country to build its policy with an eye to nuclear war.

No war is over until the enemy says it's over. We may think it over, we may declare it over, but in fact, the enemy gets a vote.

A brilliant man would find a way not to fight a war.

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

Military power wins battles, but spiritual power wins wars.

In order to assure an adequate national defense, it is necessary - and sufficient - to be in a position in case of war to conquer the command of the air.

You will not find it difficult to prove that battles, campaigns, and even wars have been won or lost primarily because of logistics.

Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise, for the result is waste of time and general stagnation.

We have an army far better adapted to attack than to defend. Let us fight at advantage before we are forced to fight at disadvantage.

All war is based on deception.

Never get involved in a land war in Asia.

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

When you see contention amongst your enemies, go and sit at ease with your friends; but when you see them of one mind, string your bow, and place stones upon the ramparts.

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

Attacks on cities are strategically justified in so far as they tend to shorten the war and so preserve the lives of allied soldiers.

When you cannot be deceived by men you will have realised the wisdom of strategy.

I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but by God, they frighten me.

Today, shooting wars are won or lost before they start. If they are fought at all, they would be fought principally to confirm which side had won at the outset.

To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.