Everything in strategy is very simple, but that does not mean everything is very easy.

Talent and genius operate outside the rules, and theory conflicts with practice.

War is nothing but a continuation of politics with the admixture of other means.

The majority of people are timid by nature, and that is why they constantly exaggerate danger. all influences on the military leader, therefore, combine to give him a false impression of his opponent's strength, and from this arises a new source of indecision.

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.

Friction is the only concept that more or less corresponds to the factors that distinguish real war from war on paper.

Criticism exists only to recognize the truth, not to act as judge.