I shall proceed from the simple to the complex. But in war more than in any other subject we must begin by looking at the nature of the whole; for here more than elsewhere the part and the whole must always be thought of together.
Carl von ClausewitzStrength of character does not consist solely in having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one's balance in spite of them.
Carl von ClausewitzModern wars are seldom fought without hatred between nations; this serves more or less as a substitute for hatred between individuals.
Carl von ClausewitzBut the main point is that soldiers, after fighting for some time, are apt to be like burned-out cinders. They have shot off their ammunition, their numbers have been diminished, their strength and their morale are drained, and possibly their courage has vanished as well. As an organic whole, quite apart from their loss in numbers, they are far from being what they were before the action; and thus the amount of reserves spent is an accurate measure on the loss of morale.
Carl von Clausewitz