War is the realm of uncertainty; three quarters of the factors on which action is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty.

In war everything is simple, but it's the simple things that are difficult.

[...] to introduce into the philosophy of war itself a principle of moderation would be an absurdity

Of all the passions that inspire a man in a battle, none, we have to admit, is so powerful and so constant as the longing for honor and reknown.

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

In war, where imperfect intelligence, the threat of a catastrophe, and the number of accidents are incomparably greater than any other human endeavor, the amount of missed opportunities, so to speak, is therefore bound to be greater.

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