Quotes About Tactics

I want war. To me all means will be right. My motto is not "Don't, whatever you do, annoy the enemy." My motto is "Destroy him by all and any means." I am the one who will wage the war!

War must be made as intense and awful as possible in order to make it short, and thus to diminish its horrors.

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard.

Air Power is, above all, a psychological weapon - and only short-sighted soldiers, too battle-minded, underrate the importance of psychological factors in war.

Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement.

Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.

Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.

Lee's army will be your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, there you will go also.

In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good.

A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain.

In war the only sure defense is offense, and the efficiency of the offense depends on the warlike souls of those conducting it.

He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he will retreat.

Princes should delegate to others the enactment of unpopular measures and keep in their own hands the means of winning favours.

For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.

He who knows things, and in fighting puts his knowledge into practice, will win his battles. He who knows them not, nor practices them, will surely be defeated.

In warfare, there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent will succeed and win.

One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant.

If there is a Way involving the spirit of not being defeated, to help oneself and gain honour, it is the Way of Strategy.

Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.

Those who would wage war, should first eliminate all domestic enemies before proceeding to attack the external foe.

Deliberate tactical errors and minor losses are the means by which to bait the enemy.

General, you don't have a war plan! All you have is a kind of horrible spasm!