In war, while everything is simple, even the simplest thing is difficult. Difficulties accumulate and produce frictions which no one can comprehend who has not seen war.

A general in time of war is constantly bombarded by reports both true and false; by errors arising from fear or negligence or hastiness; by disobedience born of right or wrong interpretations, of ill will; of a proper or mistaken sense of duty; of laziness; or of exhaustion; and by accident that nobody could have foreseen. In short, he is exposed to countless impressions, most of them disturbing, few of them encouraging. ... If a man were to yield to these pressures, he would never complete an operation.

To be practical, any plan must take account of the enemy's power to frustrate it.

The enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan.

All war presupposes human weakness and seeks to exploit it.

A general who allows himself to be decisively defeated in an extended mountain position deserves to be court-martialled.

A conqueror is always a lover of peace.