War is...a trinity of violence, chance, and reason.

Modern wars are seldom fought without hatred between nations; this serves more or less as a substitute for hatred between individuals.

War is a conflict of great interests which is settled by bloodshed, and only in that is it different from others.

War therefore is an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfill our will.

Whenever armed forces . . . are used, the idea of combat must be present. . . . The end for which a soldier is recruited, clothed, armed, and trained, the whole object of his sleeping, eating, drinking, and marching is simply that he should fight at the right place and the right time.

War is an act of violence pushed to its utmost bounds.

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