Friction is the only concept that more or less corresponds to the factors that distinguish real war from war on paper. ...

War is nothing but a continuation of politics with the admixture of other means.

If we read history with an open mind, we cannot fail to conclude that, among all the military virtues, the energetic conduct of war has always contributed most to glory and success.

The more a leader is in the habit of demanding from his men, the surer he will be that his demands will be answered.

Desperate affairs require desperate remedies.

Knowledge in war is very simple, being concerned with so few subjects, and only with their final results at that. But this does not make its application easy.

War is merely a continuation of politics,

The great uncertainty of all data in war is because all action, to a certain extent, planned in a mere twilight - like the effect of a fog - gives things exaggerated dimensions and unnatural appearance.

Every age has its own kind of war, its own limiting conditions and its own peculiar preconceptions.