Quotes by Prussian Authors

"All action takes place, so to speak, in a kind of twilight, which like a fog or moonlight, often tends to make things seem grotesque and larger than they really are."

"All action takes place, so to speak, in a kind of twilight, which like a fog or moonlight, often tends to make things seem grotesque and larger than they really are."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Action, Twilight

32

"Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior."

"Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Quality, Courage, First

32

"It is even better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past."

"It is even better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Time, Action, Past

31

"The more a general is accustomed to place heavy demands on his soldiers, the more he can depend on their response."

"The more a general is accustomed to place heavy demands on his soldiers, the more he can depend on their response."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

General, Soldiers

29

"The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy."

"The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Surprise, Secrecy

29

"Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination."

"Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Determination, Force

29

"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."

"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."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Nature, War, Thought

28

"A conqueror is always a lover of peace."

"A conqueror is always a lover of peace."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Peace,

28

"War is the domain of physical exertion and suffering."

"War is the domain of physical exertion and suffering."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

War, Suffering

28

"Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are uncertain."

"Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are uncertain."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Intelligence, War

27

"War is not an exercise of the will directed at an inanimate matter."

"War is not an exercise of the will directed at an inanimate matter."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

War, Exercise, Will

27

"To secure peace is to prepare for war."

"To secure peace is to prepare for war."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Peace, War

25

"Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating."

"Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Nature, Certainty, Clarity, Intellect

24

"War is regarded as nothing but the continuation of state policy with other means."

"War is regarded as nothing but the continuation of state policy with other means."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

War, Policy, Nothing, State

24

"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."

"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."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Truth, Courage, First, Intellect

23

"Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity."

"Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Leadership, Leader, Forget, Military

23

"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."

"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."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Leadership, Leader, Strength, Ambition, Obstacles

23

"Politics is the womb in which war develops."

"Politics is the womb in which war develops."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Politics, War

22

"Everything in war is very simple. But the simplest thing is difficult."

"Everything in war is very simple. But the simplest thing is difficult."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

War,

20

"War is not merely a political act but a real political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse, a carrying out of the same by other means."

"War is not merely a political act but a real political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse, a carrying out of the same by other means."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

War, Act

19

"War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means."

"War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Politics, War

18

"War is the continuation of politics by other means."

"War is the continuation of politics by other means."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Politics, War

18

"Principles and rules are intended to provide a thinking man with a frame of reference."

"Principles and rules are intended to provide a thinking man with a frame of reference."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

Man, Principles, Rules, Thinking

18

"War is the province of danger."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

War, Danger

14

"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."

"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."

Karl Von Clausewitz, Prussian Soldier

War, Goal, Isolation

Quotes by Prussian Authors

"All action takes place, so to speak, in a kind of twilight, which like a fog or moonlight, often tends to make things seem grotesque and larger than they really are."

32

"Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior."

32

"It is even better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past."

31

"The more a general is accustomed to place heavy demands on his soldiers, the more he can depend on their response."

29

"The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy."

29

"Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination."

29

"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."

28

"A conqueror is always a lover of peace."

28

"War is the domain of physical exertion and suffering."

28

"Many intelligence reports in war are contradictory; even more are false, and most are uncertain."

27

"War is not an exercise of the will directed at an inanimate matter."

27

"To secure peace is to prepare for war."

25

"Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating."

24

"War is regarded as nothing but the continuation of state policy with other means."

24

"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."

23

"Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity."

23

"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."

23

"Politics is the womb in which war develops."

22

"Everything in war is very simple. But the simplest thing is difficult."

20

"War is not merely a political act but a real political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse, a carrying out of the same by other means."

19

"War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means."

18

"War is the continuation of politics by other means."

18

"Principles and rules are intended to provide a thinking man with a frame of reference."

18

"War is the province of danger."

14

"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."

11