Quotes About Subterfuge

Intelligence services exist to do things that are illegal abroad. They exist to tell lies.

I'm a big believer in 'Trojan horses' - There are certain themes that are more palatable when wrapped in something fun or distracting.

Charles McCarry is the best modern writer on the subject of intrigue - by the breadth of Alan Furst, by the fathom of Eric Ambler, by any measure.

Gavin gestured toward the capsule. "I was a little surprised we found your place so easily. I figured you'd set up decoys. You ever read about the Ghost Army in World War Two?" Wilde had. "The Twenty-Third Headquarters Special Troops.

Miss Holmes smiled. She had dimples. Of course she did—the Good Lord went to ridiculous lengths to make sure that one of the finest minds in existence was housed in a body least likely to be suspected of it.

They realized that the best way to mask what they were doing was to hide it in plain sight. Instead of lying about the sweeps themselves, they just lied about what they were sweeping for.

A thief never makes a noise by accident.

Steerpike was, of course, alive with ideas and projects. These two half-witted women were a gift. That they should be the sisters of Lord Sepulchrave was of tremendous strategic value. They would prove an advance on the Prunesquallors, if not intellectually at any rate socially, and that at the moment was what mattered. And in any case, the lower the mentality of his employers the more scope for his own projects.

The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.

mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

All warfare is based on deception.

In making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them

Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

15. In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed.

Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

The art of war is the art of deception.

El arte de la guerra se basa en el engaño. Por lo tanto, cuando es capaz de atacar, ha de aparentar incapacidad; cuando las trampas se mueven, aparentar inactividad.

Attack by Stratagem

To prevent the enemy from fathoming one's intentions is of the first importance.

8.    Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack. [An aphorism which puts the whole art of war in a nutshell.]

Those who win every battle are not really skillful—those who render others' armies helpless without fighting are the best of all.

All warfare is based on deception. Therefore, when capable, pretend to be incapable; when active, inactive; when near, make the enemy believe that you are far away; when far away; that you are near.

One who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances, according to which the enemy will act. He sacrifices something, that the enemy may snatch at it.