In the whole range of human activities, war most closely resembles a game of cards.

The Conqueror is always a lover of peace: he would prefer to take over our country unopposed.

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.

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

The general unreliability of all information presents a special problem in war: all action takes place, so to speak, in the twilight, which, like fog or moonlight, often tends to make things seem grotesque and larger than they really are. Whatever is hidden from full view in this feeble light has to be guessed at by talent, or simply left to chance. So once again for the lack of objective knowledge, one has to trust to talent or to luck.

There are very few men-and they are the exceptions-who are able to think and feel beyond the present moment

War is the province of chance. In no sphere of human activity is such a margin to be left for this intruder. It increases the uncertainty of every circumstance, and deranges the course of events.